Law Firm Threatens Class Action Against British Airways Over Treatment of Nigerian Passengers
A Nigerian law firm, has issued a warning to British Airways, threatening to file a class action lawsuit over the alleged systematic mistreatment of Nigerian passengers. In a pre-action letter dated August 30, 2024, Principal Partner Ife Ajayi expressed the firm’s concerns about the persistent disruptions to scheduled flights to Nigeria, which they attribute to the airline’s use of faulty and substandard aircraft on Nigerian routes. The firm has vowed to proceed with legal action if the airline does not address these issues.
The letter, addressed to the Customer Relations Department of British Airways in London, was also sent to several Nigerian authorities, including the Aviation Ministry, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Attorney-General of the Federation, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, National Assembly, British Embassy, Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), and the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
Sovereignty Legal Practitioners highlighted the severe hardship experienced by Nigerian passengers due to frequent flight delays and cancellations caused by technical issues with the aircraft assigned to Nigerian routes. The letter cited a specific incident on August 29, 2024, at Heathrow Airport, where Nigerian passengers on an Abuja-bound flight were forced to disembark after three hours of check-in and were subsequently housed in low-class hotels without any clear indication of when they would depart.
The firm pointed out that these frequent technical failures not only raise serious safety concerns but also cause significant distress to passengers, particularly children. The letter further criticized British Airways for using modern, well-maintained aircraft on other international routes while deploying technically challenged planes to Nigeria, despite Nigerian routes being among the most expensive.
The law firm demanded monetary compensation for the affected passengers and warned that a class action lawsuit would be filed if the airline fails to provide compensation. “In the circumstance, we also demand adequate monetary compensation and damages for our clients for the untold hardship they have been subjected to, due to several delays and cancellation of flights. If these steps are not taken, we shall file a class action against you on behalf of our clients,” the letter concluded.
