Court orders MTN, NELMCO to pay N200m to Hamsatu Abdullahi who was shocked and had to be amputated as a result of their alleged negligence
A High Court in Damaturu, Yobe, on Monday ordered MTN Telecommunications limited and Nigeria Electricity Liability Management Limited/GTE (NELMCO), to pay N200m to four-year-old Hamsatu Abdullahi for negligence.
Briefly, after the court verdict, Mr Ahmed Igoche, the plaintiff’s counsel said Abdullahi was shocked as a result of the negligence of the defendants.
He said the defendants located a mast close to the father of the victim’s house with a 33kv line without protection, which according to him, shocked the 4-year old victim.
He said such actions and omissions of the defendants led to the amputation of two hands and a right leg of Abdullahi.
While delivering judgment on the suit, 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 are 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.
