Court orders MTN, NELMCO to pay amputee N200m damages

A High Court in Damaturu, Yobe, on Monday ordered MTN Telecommunications Limited and Nigeria Electricity Liability Management Limited/GTE (NELMCO), to pay N200 million to Hamsatu Abdullahi for negligence.

Justice M. Lawu Lawan held that the plaintiff has dully established by oral and documentary credible and unchallenged evidence against the defendants.

Justice Lawan said: “I equally hold that the plaintiff is entitled to claims from the defendants jointly and severally as compensation or general damages for the permanent disablement via the loss of her two hands, right leg.

“This led to 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.

“The particular of heads of the damages is as follows: Loss of earnings, pains and suffering N10 million, loss of capacity for enjoyment of life N10 million.

“Shortening of expectation of life N10 million, cost of keeping a servant to assist the plaintiff N10 million, general damages N150 million and cost of action N10 million,” Lawan said.

Briefly after the court verdict, Mr. Ahmed Igoche, the plaintiff’s counsel said the victim was electrocuted as a result of the negligence of the defendants.

He said defendants located a mast close to the father of the victim’s house with 33kv line without protection, which according to him, electrocuted the 4-year old victim.

He said such actions and omissions of the defendents led to the amputation of two hands and a right leg of the victim.

The Star