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Federal high court orders INEC to pay N1.12bn in compensation for fatal accident

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The Federal High Court has ordered INEC to pay N1.12bn in compensation to the family of Mike Madu, killed by an INEC driver in a fatal accident

 

The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to pay N1.12 billion in compensation to the family of Mike Madu, who was killed in a tragic accident involving an INEC driver in Imo State.

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The ruling, delivered by Justice Inyang Ekwo on Friday, also mandates that INEC pay 10% annual interest on the compensation from the date of the judgment until full payment is made.

In addition, the court instructed INEC, its Chairman, Prof. Yakubu Mahmood, and other defendants to send a letter of condolence to the Madu family.

The case was brought to court by Augustine Madu, the brother of the deceased, who filed the suit on behalf of the Umudurugwu, Umuokwe, and Awo-Omamma communities in Oru-East Local Government Area of Imo State.

The amended writ of summons listed INEC, its Chairman, the INEC Commissioner in Abuja, and the INEC escort driver, Hassan Abdul, as defendants.

The tragic incident occurred on June 16, 2019, when Mike Madu, a successful businessman, was traveling with two Chinese investors to explore investment opportunities in Enugu State.

Their vehicle collided head-on with a Toyota Land Cruiser driven by Abdul, an INEC driver, on the Itobe-Anyigba Expressway in Kogi State. The crash resulted in the deaths of Mike Madu and one of the Chinese investors, Huang Hia Yan.

A police report from July 16, 2019, concluded that Abdul’s reckless speeding was the cause of the accident.

During the trial, Augustine Madu testified that the family had been left in distress, with his brother’s death leaving his immediate family, including his wife and child in China, without support.

The court’s ruling in favour of the plaintiff underscores the serious consequences of the tragic accident and highlights the responsibility of INEC and its officials.

Despite the clear evidence, INEC had reportedly shown no remorse or concern for the victim’s family, prompting the legal action.


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