A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos yesterday adjourned the suit filed by security expert Ahmed Rabiu against Virgin Atlantic Airways to February 27, 2025. The case involves allegations of breach of contract and the loss of his luggage on a London-to-Lagos flight on September 24, 2024.
The court had initially scheduled the hearing for yesterday but adjourned it due to the absence of Justice Alexander Owoeye, who was attending an official function outside the state.
In the suit, Rabiu is demanding $4,000 for the value of the items in his stolen luggage and N20 million in damages for distress, inconvenience, and legal fees incurred in attempting to recover his belongings.
In an affidavit supporting the suit, Rabiu stated that he boarded flight No. CNY3JV from London-Heathrow to Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, after undergoing rigorous security checks. He claimed he was properly checked in, along with his tagged prime luggage, by the airline’s operational staff.
According to him, after the plane landed in Lagos, he waited at the conveyor belt from the moment the baggage carousel was activated until it was switched off. While all other passengers collected their luggage and left, he was left devastated as his luggage never arrived.
The plaintiff stated that he immediately informed the airline’s staff and was given a Loss of Baggage Form to fill out and submit, which he did. However, the airline neither returned his luggage nor compensated him for its value.
Rabiu claimed that the negligence or recklessness of the airline’s operational staff led to the disappearance of his newly purchased bag, which contained all his purchases from London. He argued that this constituted a significant breach of contract, especially considering he had spent a substantial amount on the flight ticket.
Following the loss of his luggage, Rabiu said he instructed his lawyers to send a demand letter to the airline, requesting either the return of his luggage or compensation for its contents. However, the defendant did not respond. A reminder letter was also ignored.
Rabiu asserted that he suffered significant economic losses and emotional distress, insisting that justice required the court to grant his claims.
He also emphasized, “There was neither an accident nor armed robbery on the plane from London-Heathrow to Lagos, Nigeria, and there is no reason why my prime luggage could not be found upon arrival in Lagos.”