The Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered British Airways to pay N50 million in damages to a Nigerian passenger, Mr. Stephen Osho, for breach of contract and unfair treatment.
Delivering judgment, Justice Ibrahim Kala ruled that Osho endured unnecessary hardship, inconvenience, and financial losses due to the airline’s negligence.
In addition, the court awarded N3 million in litigation costs to cover legal fees, summons charges, and other expenses incurred during the prolonged case, as well as the impact of naira depreciation — bringing the total compensation to N53 million.
The case arose after British Airways failed to deliver Osho’s checked baggage on Flight BA307 from Paris to London on December 2, 2022.
The airline argued that Osho was responsible for his own predicament and urged the court to dismiss the claim, even suggesting that any compensation should not exceed N60.
Justice Kala, however, dismissed the defence as baseless and inconsistent with the evidence before the court, holding the airline accountable for violating its obligations under the international contract of carriage.