The Labour Party governorship candidate in Imo State, Senator Athan Achonu, has sued British Airways and demanded N200 million in damages over an alleged contract breach.
In the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/755/2024 filed at the Federal High Court, Abuja, by his lawyer, Okwudili Anozie, the LP candidate sought five reliefs.
He demanded a refund of the fare paid for the Lagos-Houston return journey, amounting to £16,505.00.
Achonu also prayed the court to order the airline to pay the sum of N200 million as general damages.
He equally sought a 20 percent interest per annum on his claim number one above from December 21, 2022, when the defendant canceled his booking until judgment was delivered in the suit.
Achonu further sought a 10 percent interest per annum from the judgment date until the sum was fully liquidated.
He, therefore, sought compensation for the cost of the suit.
In his statement of claim, the plaintiff, who described himself as a businessman, said he is a premium traveller with British Airways “and is a gold member of the defendant’s executive club.”
The LP candidate said he purchased a first-class ticket from the airline for his trip to Houston through London, which cost £16,505.00.
He said: “The ticket with booking reference number M7NORM, outlined that the defendant’s flight would take off on 15th December 2022 from Lagos, arrive at London on the 16th December 2022, take off from London on 21st December 2022 and arrive in Houston same day.”
“For the return journey, the Houston – London trip was scheduled for 11th January 2023 and the London — Lagos trip was fixed for 11th January 2023.”
“The plaintiff pleads and shall rely on a copy of his ticket.
“The plaintiff traveled from Lagos to London on the 15th of December, 2022 without any encumbrance.”
“However, on reaching London, the plaintiff had a business engagement that necessitated extending his stay in London.”
“Before the plaintiff’s departure date from London, he informed the defendant’s office of his intention to change his traveling date to Houston from 21/12/2022 to 22/12/2022 for which he was charged $563 (five hundred and sixty-three United States dollars).”
“The plaintiff informed the defendant’s staff that he has an outstanding voucher with over $4000 that should be used to settle the sum but this request was refused by the defendant whose staff insisted that the defendant’s E-Voucher was unacceptable for the service and that the plaintiff has to make a fresh payment to effect the date change.”
