A High Court in Damaturu, Yobe has ordered MTN Telecommunications limited and Nigeria Electricity Liability Management Limited/GTE (NELMCO), to pay N200m to fourteen year-old Hamsatu Abdullahi for negligence.
Briefly after the court verdict, Mr Ahmed Igoche, the plaintiff’s counsel said Abdullahi was electrocuted as a result of the negligence of the defendants.
He said defendants located a mast close to house of the father of the victim with 33kv line without protection, which according to him, electrocuted the 14-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 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.
