Zaki Biam victims insist on N41.8bn compensation

Victims of the 2001 armed invasion of  Zaki Biam  in Benue State on Thursday, insisted on the full payment of the  N41.8bn which a Federal High Court ordered the Federal Government to pay them as compensatory damages. The demand followed reports that the Federal Government intends to settle the judgment debt with only N8bn.
It was reported that the Federal Government decided to pay the N8bn after out-of-court-settlement negotiations with the Benue State Government.
However, the victims, through their lead counsel, Chief Sebastian Hon(SAN), insisted that they must be paid the full amount awarded in their favour by the Enugu FHC, presided by Justice Lewis Allagoa, in 2007.
Addressing journalists in company with some of the victims in Abuja, Hon stressed that even the N41.8bn awarded as compensatory damages was not enough.
He said, “No amount of damages will compensate for the  penetrating damage done to the victims of Zaki Biam military invasion of 2001.
“It is in this light that we want to tell our respected President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, that my clients, nay the entire Tiv   are not ready to accept any amount less by even a kobo from the judgment debt of N41.8bn awarded over six years ago in favour of the plaintiffs/judgment creditors, who represent the interest of over 14,000 other victims.”
Hon therefore  called on Jonathan to “direct all relevant agencies of the Federal Government to,  as a matter of utmost urgency satisfy to the hilt,  the judgment debt of N41.8bn.”
He said the payment  would right the wrongs of the army and also reassure the Tiv  that they are also bonafide Nigerians.
The  SAN warned the Federal Government against going ahead with the reported out-of-court-settlement arrangement with the Benue State Government.
Hon said a letter conveying the warning was forwarded to the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mohammed Adoke (SAN).
Another letter was sent to the President on February 20, 2013, urging him to direct relevant agencies of the government to comply with the court judgment.
On March 11, 2013, the victims forwarded  another letter to Jonathan, pressing home their demand for timely settlement of the judgment debt.