Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Chief Jibrin S. Okutepa, has instituted legal proceedings against Qatar Airways before the Federal High Court, Abuja, alleging breach of contract, negligence, and what he terms “unconscionable and oppressive” treatment that left him stranded across two continents.
On 19 January 2026, Chief Okutepa filed an action against the airline, claiming that Qatar Airways failed to honour contractual representations tied to a business-class Abuja–Toronto–Abuja ticket purchased for his attendance at the 2025 International Bar Association (IBA) Annual Conference in Canada.
According to the pleadings, the ticket was purchased following promotional communications from Qatar Airways which advertised a package inclusive of transit visa assistance for Doha, hotel accommodation during stopovers, and ancillary travel support.
Okutepa contends that these representations formed the basis of a binding contract of carriage between himself and the airline.
Court documents reveal that after payment, Qatar Airways requested documentation to process the promised transit visa and even issued confirmations, including a Stopover for the Purpose of Connection (STPC) receipt detailing hotel bookings in Doha. Despite these assurances, the airline allegedly failed to provide the transit visa.
On 29 October 2025, Okutepa boarded his Abuja–Doha flight after ground staff assured him the visa would be ready upon arrival. However, upon landing in Doha, he was informed no visa had been processed. He was forced to endure an eight-hour overnight layover at the airport without hotel access, incurring over $500 in incidental expenses.
The situation reportedly worsened on his return leg. After the IBA conference in Toronto, Qatar Airways staff at Toronto Pearson International Airport allegedly refused to check him in on 10 November 2025, citing the same missing transit visa. Appeals to the airline’s station manager were rejected.
When Okutepa requested a ticket amendment to avoid Doha, the airline allegedly demanded $5,000. Upon his refusal, he was denied boarding and left stranded. He subsequently paid for an overnight hotel stay and purchased a new Ethiopian Airlines business-class ticket for $3,600 to return to Nigeria.
In his suit, Chief Okutepa accuses Qatar Airways of negligence, breach of duty of care, wrongful denial of boarding, breach of contract, and unfair trade practices.
He further alleges that the airline’s conduct reflects a broader pattern of treating Nigerian passengers with “scorn, contempt and indignity,” contrary to corporate governance principles and international aviation standards.
Among the reliefs sought include declaratory orders, a public apology published nationally and on the airline’s website, refunds and special damages exceeding $7,000, ₦500 million in general damages, $500,000 in exemplary damages, Interest at 21 percent, and ₦50 million in legal costs.
Additionally, the suit seeks an order compelling Qatar Airways to publicly commit to improved customer care, compliance with international best practices, and responsible corporate conduct.
As of filing, Qatar Airways had allegedly failed to respond to a formal pre-action demand letter. The case is expected to test the obligations of international carriers operating in Nigeria and may set a precedent for passenger rights, airline accountability, and consumer protection in cross-border air travel.
