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British Airways Faces Legal Threat Over Poor Treatment Of Nigerian Passengers
A Nigerian law firm, Sovereignty Legal Practitioners, has issued a stern warning to British Airways, threatening to file a class action lawsuit over what it describes as the systematic and inhumane treatment of Nigerian passengers using the airline.
In a pre-action letter dated August 30, 2024, and signed by the firm’s Principal Partner, Ife Ajayi, the law firm expressed deep concern over the persistent disruption of scheduled flights to Nigeria, which it attributes to the airline’s deployment of faulty and substandard aircraft on Nigerian routes.
The letter emphasized that if these practices are not addressed, the firm would have no choice but to initiate legal action on behalf of affected passengers.
The letter was addressed to the Customer Relations Department of British Airways in London and was also copied to several key stakeholders in Nigeria, including the Nigerian Aviation Ministry, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister for Justice, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chairman of the National Assembly, British Embassy, Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), and the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
The law firm highlighted the numerous hardships Nigerian passengers have faced, citing frequent delays and cancellations of flights due to technical issues with the aircraft used on Nigerian routes.
It specifically referenced an incident on August 29, 2024, at Heathrow Airport, where Nigerian passengers bound for Abuja were disembarked after three hours of check-in and subsequently placed in low-class hotels without any clear information on their departure time.
The letter stated: “There have been multiple instances where our clients, that is, Nigerian passengers, have experienced significant delays and disruptions due to the use of faulty or substandard aircraft.
“For instance, within the two weeks of August 2024, checked-in Nigerian passengers have been disembarked after three to four hours on board due to technical failures prior to departure.
“Most vexing is the incident at Heathrow Airport on August 29, 2024, where Abuja-bound passengers were disembarked after three hours of check-in, without any knowledge of when their airline would be able to airlift them.
“These frequent technical faults raise safety concerns, traumatize passengers—particularly children—and create the impression that Nigerian routes are not treated with the respect they deserve.”
The law firm further criticized British Airways for using modern, well-maintained aircraft on other international routes while reserving technically challenged planes for Nigerian flights, despite Nigerian routes being among the most expensive.
The firm also pointed out that the ongoing situation has caused severe economic losses and health hazards for its clients.
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“In light of these events, we demand adequate monetary compensation and damages for our clients due to the hardships they have endured as a result of several delays and cancellations of flights. If these steps are not taken, we shall proceed with filing a class action lawsuit against British Airways on behalf of our clients,” the letter concluded.
Sovereignty Legal Practitioners has made it clear that it will not hesitate to take legal action if the airline fails to address these concerns and provide the necessary compensation to affected passengers.
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