The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to pay ₦1.12 billion in compensation to the family of one Mike Madu, killed by an INEC driver in Imo State.
According to The PUNCH, Justice Inyang Ekwo, in a judgment on Friday, ordered INEC to pay the ₦1.12 billion with 10 per cent interest per annum from the date of judgment until the final or full payment is made.
In addition, the judge ordered INEC, its Chairman, Prof. Yakubu Mahmood, and other defendants to send a letter of condolence to Madu’s family.
“An order is hereby made for the defendants to pay the cost of prosecuting this action. This shall be the judgment of this court,” Justice Ekwo added.
The plaintiff, Augustine Madu, filed the suit on behalf of the Umudurugwu, Umuokwe, Awo-Omamma community in Oru-East Local Government Area of Imo State.
The amended writ of summons, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1074/2019, listed INEC, its Chairman, the INEC Commissioner in Abuja, and an INEC escort driver, Hassan Abdul, as the first to fourth defendants, respectively.
Augustine filed the suit on September 18, 2019, seeking four reliefs, including an order for the defendants to pay ₦1.12 billion in compensation to Madu’s family for the unlawful termination of his life.
In his statement of claim, Augustine described his deceased brother, Mike Madu, as a successful businessman born on June 9, 1970, to the late John and Chioma Madu in Awo-Omamma, Imo State.
He said Abdul, an INEC staff member and driver under the office of the national commissioner, was responsible for the fatal accident that claimed Mike’s life on June 16, 2019.
On September 10, 2019, the deceased’s family resolved to take legal action against the defendants.
Augustine noted that his brother frequently travelled between China and Nigeria, often accompanying Chinese investors to facilitate business opportunities.
On one such trip, Mike was escorting two Chinese investors to explore investment prospects in the Enugu State Free Trade Zone.
During their journey on the Itobe-Anyigba Expressway in Kogi State, their Lexus car, driven by Ega Chukwudi of Auto Star Transport Company, collided with a Toyota V8 Land Cruiser Jeep driven by the fourth defendant, Hassan Abdul.
The Toyota, occupied by Abdul and a police escort, Sgt. Usman Abdullahi, lost control, swerved into the opposite lane, and crashed into the Lexus in a head-on collision.
