Hamsatu
From JOE Hemba
A teenage girl, Hamsatu Abdullahi, has secured a two hundred million judgement against Nigerian Telecommunication giant, Mtn and Nigeria Electricity Liability Management Company(NELMCO).
Hamsatu Abdullahi, a minor who sued through her father, Abdullahi Koki in suite No. YBS/D/HC2/001/2021 sought redress from a High Court in Damaturu after she was electrocuted by an electricity wire of the second defendant who sited the facility in front of their house regardless of protest on the behest of the first defendant’s installation of a mast in the same location.
The incident which occurred in 2012 at Chumbusko Village in Karasuwa Local Government of Yobe State has led to the amputation of little Hamsatu’s two hands and a leg resulting to a permanent disability on her.
Delivering his judgement, Justice Mallam Lawu Lawan awarded the sum of N200 million damages jointly and severally against MTN Nigeria Ltd and Nigeria Electricity Liability Management in favour of Hamsatu.
His lordship, Justice M. Lawu Lawan in his judgement said in part: "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 two hundred million naira (N200,000,000.00) is hereby awarded against the defendants jointly and severally in favour of the plaintiff.
The particular of heads of the damages is as follows:
1. Loss of earnings, pains and suffering - N10,000,000.00
2. Loss of capacity for enjoyment of life - N10,000,000.00
3. Shortening of expectation of life - 10,000,000.00
4. Cost of keeping a servant to assist the plaintiff - N10,000,000.00
5. General damages - N150,000,000.00
6. Cost of action - N10,000,000.00", Justice Lawan said.
Counsel to the plaintiff, Ahmed Igoche, said he was happy over the judgment because it involves a teenage girl from a remote village and a multi-million company like the MTN and NELMCO.
" What gives me joy for this judgement is the status of the people that are involved in this case and our defendants. This is a girl from a remote village in Karasuwa with a very poor family background. So what this judgement has taught us is to respect the Law and that the Law can bring you down no matter how high you are,” Barr. Igoche said.
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