Court orders MTN, NELMCO to pay N200m to victim of amputation

A High Court in Damaturu, Yobe State, on Monday, ordered MTN Telecommunications Limited and Nigeria Electricity Liability Management Limited/GTE (NELMCO), to pay N200m to Hamsatu Abdullahi for negligence.

Justice M. Lawu Lawan said: “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 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 defendents.

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