Following Mike Madu’s untimely death in an accident involving an INEC driver in Imo State, the Federal High Court in Abuja concluded that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) must pay ₦1.12 billion to his family.
In her ruling on Friday, Justice Inyang Ekwo ordered INEC to pay the amount plus 10% interest every year until it was paid in full.
The court also ordered INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, its chairman, and other defendants to write Madu’s family a formal letter of sympathy.
The defendants are ordered to cover the costs of the prosecution of this case. “This will be the court’s decision,” the judge declared.
The Victim’s Family Started the Legal Action
Augustine Madu filed the action on behalf of the Umudurugwu, Umuokwe, Awo-Omamma community in Imo State’s Oru-East Local Government Area.
INEC, its Chairman, the INEC Commissioner in Abuja, and an INEC escort driver, Hassan Abdul, were named as defendants in the modified writ of summons, which was referred to as FHC/ABJ/CS/1074/2019.
On September 18, 2019, Augustine filed the lawsuit, requesting four reliefs, including monetary damages for his brother’s untimely death.
Conditions of the Fatal Mishap
Born on June 9, 1970, Mike Madu was a wealthy businessman who regularly traveled between China and Nigeria to facilitate investment opportunities.
Tragic events occurred on June 16, 2019, while he was with two Chinese investors to investigate business opportunities in the Enugu State Free Trade Zone.
Their Lexus, driven by Ega Chukwudi of Auto Star Transport Company, collided head-on with a Toyota V8 Land Cruiser while traveling along the Itobe-Anyigba Expressway in Kogi State.
The fourth defendant, Hassan Abdul, and police escort Sgt. Usman Abdullahi were driving the Land Cruiser when it lost control, swerved into the other lane, and collided with Madu’s car.
The Lexus sustained significant damage in the collision, and the Land Cruiser overturned and caught fire.
The surviving Chinese businessman, Qu Xin Dong, was admitted to the hospital, while Madu and Huang Hia Yan, one of the Chinese investors, passed away from their wounds.
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The deceased were then moved to the Kogi State Specialist Hospital Mortuary, while the injured were transported to Holley Memorial Hospital in Ochadamu Village.
According to a July 16, 2019, police investigation, Abdul’s careless speeding was the cause of the collision.
On July 10, 2019, the Kogi State Chief Magistrate Court ordered a post-mortem examination before allowing the dead to be buried.
The Alleged Indifference of INEC
After his brother passed away, Augustine Madu bemoaned the lack of empathy and regret displayed by INEC officials.
He emphasized that Mike was the main provider for his wife, Xiaojuan Li, and their son, as well as for his Nigerian and Chinese family.
He contended that the family was in great hardship because INEC had not provided any compensation.
Police officer Josephine Emumwen was one of the two witnesses the plaintiff called throughout the trial.
On June 14, 2023, Augustine gave his initial witness statement. On November 16, 2023, he was summoned back for cross-examination. The defendants, however, did not show up for court.
The Punch reports that Justice Ekwo agreed with the plaintiff, upholding the allegations and giving Madu’s family ₦1.12 billion in compensation.
