A law firm, Sovereignty Legal Practitioners, has threatened to initiate a class action lawsuit against British Airways over what it describes as the systematic mistreatment of Nigerian passengers.
In a pre-action letter dated August 30, 2024, Principal Partner Ife Ajayi criticized the ongoing disruptions to flights bound for Nigeria, allegedly caused by the airline’s use of faulty and substandard aircraft on Nigerian routes. The firm warned that it would proceed with legal action if these practices were not addressed.
The letter, sent to the airline’s Customer Relations Department in London, was also copied to key Nigerian governmental bodies including the Ministry of Aviation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister for Justice, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Chairman of the National Assembly, the British Embassy, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
In the letter, the firm highlighted the significant hardship experienced by Nigerian passengers due to frequent flight delays and cancellations, attributing these issues to technical problems with the aircraft used on Nigerian routes. The letter specifically referenced an incident on August 29, 2024, at Heathrow Airport, where Nigerian passengers bound for Abuja were disembarked after three hours of check-in and subsequently placed in low-class hotels without any clear information on when they would be able to continue their journey.
“There have been multiple instances where our clients, Nigerian passengers, have endured significant delays and disruptions due to the use of faulty or substandard aircraft,” the letter stated. “For example, within two weeks in August 2024, checked-in Nigerian passengers (our clients) were disembarked three to four hours after boarding due to technical failures before departure.”
The firm also condemned the August 29 incident, where Abuja-bound passengers were left in limbo after being disembarked at Heathrow, noting that they were housed in inadequate hotels with no clear timeline for departure. The firm argued that these frequent technical issues raise serious safety concerns, traumatize passengers—especially children—and suggest a lack of respect for Nigerian routes.
“These actions have caused severe economic losses and serious health risks to our clients,” the letter continued. “It is troubling to see British Airways deploying modern, well-maintained aircraft on other international routes, while Nigerian routes are serviced by aircraft that are technically challenged and prone to faults.”
The firm also criticized the high cost of tickets on Nigerian routes, which are among the most expensive in British Airways’ international offerings, despite the poor treatment of passengers. In closing, the law firm demanded compensation for the affected passengers, warning that it would proceed with a class action lawsuit if these demands were not met. “We also demand adequate monetary compensation and damages for our clients, who have suffered due to these repeated delays and cancellations. If these steps are not taken, we will file a class action lawsuit on behalf of our clients,” the letter concluded.
