The Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has ordered Lufthansa German Airlines to pay $20,000 in damages to Mrs. Miannaya Essien, SAN, for breach of contract of carriage following the airline’s cancellation of her flight to Port Harcourt without explanation or apology.
In a judgment delivered on December 11, 2025, Hon. Justice Adamu Turaki Mohammed also awarded an additional sum of ₦15,000,000 against the airline as the cost of the action in Suit No. FHC/PH/CS/138/2024.
Mrs. Essien had approached the court following an incident that occurred on July 14, 2023, when Lufthansa German Airlines abandoned her at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, despite having purchased a business-class return ticket from Port Harcourt to London via Frankfurt with Port Harcourt as her final destination.
According to the senior lawyer’s testimony during the trial, she had purchased a business-class return ticket for a Port Harcourt-London-Port Harcourt journey via Frankfurt. Her return flight was scheduled for July 14, 2023, with a stopover in Abuja before the final leg to Port Harcourt.
Mrs. Essien testified that the flight departed Frankfurt on July 14, 2023, and arrived in Abuja at approximately 5:05 p.m. for the scheduled stopover, during which Abuja-bound passengers disembarked.
However, after the stopover, Lufthansa refused to continue the flight to Port Harcourt, which was her final destination as clearly indicated on her ticket. The airline provided no reason for the cancellation and offered no explanation to the stranded passengers.
Mrs. Essien further told the court that the airline failed to formally cancel the Port Harcourt leg of the journey or offer any apology for the inconvenience caused. This lack of accountability and disregard for passengers’ rights ultimately led to the institution of the suit.
After considering the evidence before it, Justice Adamu Turaki Mohammed ruled in favor of Mrs. Essien, holding that Lufthansa German Airlines was liable for breach of contract of carriage.
The court awarded the following sums against the airline:
Speaking to with newsmen after the judgment, counsel to Mrs. Essien, commended the court for what he described as a well-considered decision, he used the opportunity to urge passengers affected by flight cancellations to seek legal redress as a means of holding airlines accountable and curbing abuses of passengers’ rights.
The legal practitioner noted that the persistent disregard by both local and international airlines for Nigerian passengers has continued largely because Nigerians have remained passive in the face of repeated violations of their rights.
He emphasized that cases like this demonstrate that passengers have legal remedies available to them when airlines breach their contractual obligations, and encouraged more people to stand up for their rights rather than simply accepting poor service from airlines.
This judgment adds to the growing body of Nigerian case law holding airlines accountable for breach of contract and poor treatment of passengers. It sends a strong message to both local and international airlines operating in Nigeria that they cannot abandon passengers with impunity and must fulfill their contractual obligations.
The case also highlights the importance of passengers knowing their rights and being willing to seek legal redress when those rights are violated.
Mrs. Miannaya Essien’s willingness to pursue the matter to its logical conclusion in court, rather than simply accepting the airline’s behavior, has resulted not only in compensation for herself but has also set a precedent that may benefit other passengers in similar situations.
The judgment serves as a reminder to airlines that Nigerian courts are prepared to enforce passenger rights and award substantial damages against carriers who breach their contracts of carriage.