Federal High Court Orders British Airways To Pay N50 Million To Nigerian Passenger

The Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered British Airways to pay N50 million in damages to Nigerian passenger Stephen Osho for breach of contract and unfair treatment.

Delivering judgment, Justice Ibrahim Kala stated that Osho suffered unnecessary hardship, inconvenience, and financial losses due to the airline’s negligence.

In addition to the damages, the court awarded N3 million for litigation costs—including legal fees, summons charges, and other expenses—bringing the total compensation to N53 million, accounting for the impact of naira depreciation.

Justice Kala noted that Osho successfully proved that the airline violated its obligations under the international contract of carriage when it failed to deliver his checked baggage on Flight BA307 from Paris to London on December 2, 2022.

British Airways had argued that Osho was responsible for his own predicament and requested the court dismiss the claim, insisting that any awarded costs should not exceed N60. The judge rejected the airline’s defence as baseless and contrary to the evidence presented.