The Federal
Government has agreed to pay N88 billion as compensation to victims of
the Civil War in some affected states in the country.
This was the
outcome of the consent judgment delivered by the ECOWAS Court of Justice
in a case of negligence by the Federal Government to remove remnants of
landmines and explosives from the civil war.
A consent judgment
is issued when two parties agree to a settlement to end a lawsuit; the
parties write up an agreement for the judge to sign.
The suit, filed by
Mr Vincent Agu and 19 others against the Federal Government in 2012, had
claimed that the government had failed to remove remnants of landmines
and explosives since the end of the civil war in 1970.
They claimed that the lethal explosives had maimed, killed and destroyed innocent lives in their various communities.
The plaintiffs also
claimed that apart from physical injuries, the abandonment of the war
weapons had deprived them of the use of their farmlands, schools and
churches.
In the consent
judgement delivered by Justice Friday Nwoke on Monday, N50 billion would
be paid victims of the war in 11 states in the southeast, southwest and
parts of north central regions.
The 50 billion
naira is expected to be paid to into a United Bank of Africa (UBA)
account with number 1018230076 belonging Chief Noel Agwuocha
Chukwukadibia, the nominated counsel for the war victims.
The remaining N38
billion would be for the evacuation of remnants of bombs and other
lethal explosives and the construction of basic structures in the
affected areas.
The money would be
paid to Deminers Concept Nigeria Limited and RSB Holdings Nigeria Ltd
charged with responsibility of evacuating the landmines.
By the consent
judgement, the Federal Government would also establish a National Mine
Action Centre in Owerri, Imo State for the victims.
Parties involved in
the case acknowledged that 685 persons were selected and classified as
survivors, identified by experts employed to screen and identify true
victims of the war.
The experts
identified 493 persons of them as victims of either explosions from
leftovers of the landmines and other lethal weapons.
The parties in
their agreement also acknowledged that a total of 17,000 bombs were
recovered and destroyed while a total of 1,317 bombs were still in the
stockpile located at the Mine Action Centre, Owerri.
The Federal Government also agreed to remove and destroy, without delay, the stockpile at the centre and in other areas.
Key signatories to the terms of settlement are Mr Chukwukadibia and Alex Williams for the applicants.
Others are Mr Femi Falana (SAN), Mr Sola Egbeyinka, Mr Charles Uhegbu and Solomon Chukwuocha for the defendants.
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