Court Awards N200M to Yobe Teenager Electrocuted by MTN Cable at Age 4

Malik Yahya/

A high court in Damaturu, Yobe State capital, has awarded N200 million as compensation to a 12-year-old girl, Hamsatu Abdullahi, who was electrocuted by a cable belonging to a mobile telecoms company, MTN.

The injuries Miss Abdullahi sustained in the incident led to the amputation of both her hands and one of her legs.

Her father Abdullahi Koki sought redress from the high court after her daughter’s electrocution at an MTN facility in front of the plaintiff’s house.

Koki said he had complained about the citing of a mast in front of his house but was ignored.

The incident occurred in 2012 at Chumbusko Village in the Karasuwa Local Government Area of Yobe State when the plaintiff was aged 4.

The judge, Lawu Lawan, awarded the N200 million damages jointly and against MTN Nigeria Ltd and Nigeria Electricity Liability Management Company (NELMCO) in favour of Hamsatu.

Delivering his judgment, Justice 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’ acts 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.”

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

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