Get Guardian on GoogleThe Federal High Court in Lagos has mandated British Airways to pay N50 million in damages to a Nigerian passenger, Mr. Stephen Osho, for breach of contract and unfair treatment.
Justice Ibrahim Kala maintained that Osho suffered undue hardship, inconvenience, and financial loss as a result of British Airways’ conduct. The court further awarded N3 million as costs of the action, citing the expenses incurred, the protracted duration of the case, legal representation, summons fees, and the declining value of the naira, bringing the total compensation to N53m.
He added that the passenger successfully proved that the airline had violated its obligations under the international contract of carriage when it failed to deliver his checked baggage on Flight BA307 from Paris to London on December 2, 2022.
The airline, in its defence, argued that Osho should be blamed for his own predicament and urged the court not to award compensation.
Counsel for the airline further contended that, if any costs were granted, they should not exceed N60. The court, however, dismissed the argument as untenable in light of the facts before it.
