COURTROOM NEWS 31/05/2022
Minor Gets N200 Million Judgment Against MTN, Electricity Firm
A minor, Hamsatu Abdullahi, has won a N200 million judgment against MTN and Nigeria Electricity Liability Management Company (NELMCO) in Yobe State.
The suit, numbered YBS/D/HC2/001/2021, was filed on behalf of Hamsatu by her father, Abdullahi Koki.
She was electrocuted by the company’s electricity cable (stale wire) linked to an MTN mast in front of their house.
The incident occurred in 2012 in Chumbusko Village in Karasuwa Local Government in Yobe State.
Hamsatu lost both of her hands and her right leg amputated, leaving her permanently handicapped.
She was granted N200 million in damages against MTN and NELMCO by Justice Mallam Lawu Lawan.
“I hold that the plaintiff has dully established by oral and documentary credible and unchallenged evidence against the defendants.
“I equally hold that the plaintiff is entitled to claims from the defendants jointly and severally as compensating or general damages for the permanent disablement via the loss of her two hands, right leg, continuous pains medical treatment, anguish, shock and continuous psychological trauma and loss of amenities of life caused by the defendants’ act and omissions.
“Therefore, the sum of N200 million is hereby awarded against the defendants jointly and severally in favour of the plaintiff.”