Metro

US Returnee Tackles Airline Over Missing Luggage, Rejects $1,700 Compensation

Published

3 years ago

June 17, 2022

A lawyer, identified only as Abimbola, has lamented the loss of his property after he boarded a Delta Airline flight from Atlanta, United States of America, to Lagos.

Abimbola said efforts to recover the items since March 16, 2022, when the incident happened, had been abortive, alleging negligence on the side of the airline.

PUNCH Metro gathered that the legal practitioner and his wife travelled from Newark to Lagos via Atlanta.

The couple were reportedly requested to check in their carry-on luggage by the airline staff because the flight was fully booked without space in the aircraft cabin for loads.

The duo were said to have hesitated in releasing the luggage, but eventually dropped it with the Delta baggage handlers.

Abimbola, who was travelling with his wife for his 60th birthday celebration in Lagos, stated that he observed that his items were missing when he arrived in Lagos.

He listed the lost items to include a black Louis Vuitton cross-body vintage bag gifted to him by his wife for his 50th birthday, a pair of Versace transition sunglasses, another pair of Ray-Ban sunglasses, a Movado wristwatch, two Apple laptops, an Apple CD loader, Apple air pods, a box with gold jewellery and other acquisitions.

He noted that he initially suspected the driver assigned to carry his family’s load from the airport.

“On March 20, 2022, I lodged a formal complaint at a local police station (Maroko Police Station) in Lagos and a police detective, Mrs Awe, was assigned to investigate it. This was because our entire luggage was in his (driver’s) custody.

“After the questioning, we concluded that there was merely circumstantial evidence, which did not establish any sufficient wrongdoing on the part of the driver,” he added.

Abimbola stated that he made further attempts by tracking his stolen Airpods with his US phone to a private house 10 minutes away from the Atlanta airport.

Upon the discovery, the lawyer said attempts to reach the Delta airline were abortive.

He said after several attempts to reach the airline’s help desk in Atlanta also failed, an official of the aviation company, identified as Tracy Adkins, contacted him.

The lawyer said, “She called me again the second time on the same day and we spoke at length during which she dropped a hint that regardless of whatever claim I may submit, the maximum compensation Delta will offer is $1,700.

“This is a slap on my face, a violation of my person and an assault on my dignity.”

Abimbola told PUNCH Metro that some of the items had “sentimental value” and that if he was flying to London as a British citizen, he would have been treated with more respect.

His lawyer, Akinwale Akintomiwa, said he would sue for damages on behalf of his client.

He said, “We are still putting our facts together and preparing the court processes. We have yet to file the matter in court. We will write a formal letter of demand stating that he (the victim) should be fully compensated rather than the meagre sum of $1,700 which Delta offered. “

Akintomiwa stated that the case would be taken seriously because of the perceived discrimination on the part of the airline.

He said, “From the facts of this case, there is absolutely no gainsaying the fact that the airline is liable for this egregious breach. The airline is in clear breach of the contract to transport him and his goods to Lagos safely and they are liable. The principle of law is that where there is a wrong, there must be a remedy. Ubi jus ubi remedium.”

The lawyer said Abimbola might be seeking various reliefs from the court, including an order compelling the company to pay the sum of N17,751,000 and the sum of 5,000,000 as general damages for the loss of the valuables.

The Director, Corporate Communications, Delta Airline, Olivia Cullis, in an e-mail to the media consultant of the airline, which was shared with PUNCH Metro, stated that the company had investigated the incident.

She said, “Delta works to put our customers front and centre of our business every day. We launched an internal investigation into this incident and responded to the Department of Transportation following the customer’s complaint. The response included Delta making a settlement directly with the customer, which adheres to guidelines set by the Montreal Convention.”

Efforts to reach the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, on the incident via calls and text messages were abortive.

Despite repeated attempts, our correspondent did not get any response as of the time of filing this report.

PUNCH.

Metro

Woman Dies After Falling Into 170-ft Well

Published

6 hours ago

July 12, 2025

Editor

A woman has died after falling into a 170-foot well at a construction site in Ijegun, Lagos.

Her body was recovered by the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service after a prolonged multi-agency operation.

The agency said it received a distress call around 7:34 pm on June 30, about the incident at Abuba Anthony Street, near Obalagbe Bus Stop, close to Fadeko International Hotel.

According to a statement by the Fire Service’s Senior Public Affairs Officer, Maria Fadairo, on Friday, emergency responders from the Ejigbo Fire Station arrived to find that a female adult had fallen into a deep well located at the front of a one-storey building still under construction.

The structure reportedly consists of six two-bedroom flats on a fenced 648-square-metre plot.

According to The PUNCH, due to the complexity of the situation, a multi-agency operation was launched. After days of coordinated efforts, the woman’s body was recovered on Thursday (July 10).

“The victim was recovered dead and handed over to officials of SEHMU, while the Lagos State Ambulance Service stood by as the Nigeria Police observed proceedings,” the statement said.

The Director of the state Fire Service, Margaret Adeseye, expressed her condolences to the family of the deceased and emphasised the importance of safety at construction sites, noting that “a 170-foot uncovered well is a severe hazard that must never be left unsecured.”

Further investigations will be handled by the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, according to the statement.

Metro

Bank Fraud: Court Orders Forfeiture Of Cash, Properties

Published

6 hours ago

July 12, 2025

Editor

Justice Daniel Osiagor of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Friday, ordered the final forfeiture of two properties, several cars and cash to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

According to a statement posted on the official X account of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Friday, the Judge gave the order, following a motion on notice filed by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the EFCC, through its lawyer, H. U. Kofarnaisa.

In an affidavit deposed by the investigating officer of the EFCC, Sulaiman Muhammad told the court that the commission received a petition from a first-generation bank which complained of a monumental fraud allegedly committed on the account of some of its customers, which totalled N1,403,343,400.

The statement said, “The properties are one unit of a three-bedroom bungalow in Abuja; No. 8, Grace Crescent, Efab Queens Estate, Gwarimpa FCT, Abuja; one Mercedes Benz C300; one gray-coloured BMW 3 Series SUV, and one Black coloured Range Rover 2012.

“Others are three Toyota Hilux of 2008, 2010 and 2014 models; one black coloured BMW SURXI 2016 and two Range Rover vehicles. Other items forfeited included a cash sum of N326,400,000 and another $480,000.

“Justice Osiagor had earlier ordered the interim forfeiture of the properties and also ordered the publication of the said order in a national newspaper for any interested parties to show cause why they should not be finally forfeited to the Federal Government.”

Moving the application for the final forfeiture on Friday, Kofarnaisa told the court that the application was supported by an affidavit from Muhammad.

In the affidavit, Muhammad stated that the bank subsequently submitted an addendum to the petition dated July 24, 2023, wherein the total sum of N2,007,000,000 was fraudulently stolen from the customers of the bank.

According to him, the bank discovered that some customers’ accounts were debited in a manner other than the pattern familiar to the bank, which led to an internal investigation by the audit unit of the bank.

He further stated that the investigation revealed that Atus Homes Limited fraudulently received a total sum of N681,200,000 from 126 customers’ accounts in different tranches.

“An investigation also revealed that Fav Oil and Gas Limited fraudulently received a cumulative sum of N1,388,000,000 from 429 customers’ accounts in different tranches.

“That the total sum of N887,478,600.00 of the sum fraudulently stolen was transferred to various accounts in other banks. Kofarnaisa, thereafter, submitted that the said accounts warehousing the funds sought to be forfeited received inflows reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities and are not proceeds of any legitimate business venture.

“She also told the court that the mastermind of this fraudulent crime had been charged before a Federal High Court and that ‘trial is ongoing.’ After listening to the EFCC counsel, Justice Osiagor held that he found merit in the argument of the applicant and ordered the final forfeiture of the properties to the Federal Government of Nigeria,” the statement added.

(PUNCH)

Metro

Court Orders Lagos LG To Vacate Deeper Life Church Land

Published

6 hours ago

July 12, 2025

Editor

A Lagos High Court has ordered Surulere Local Government and its representatives to vacate a parcel of land belonging to the Deeper Life Bible Church, following the demolition of the church’s building and failed compensation negotiations.

Delivering ruling on the matter on Thursday, Justice E.O Ashade, also restrained the council from undertaking any development on the disputed land, just as he directed that members of the church should be given unfettered access to use the property for worship and other religious activities.

Justice Ashade further ordered the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 2, to provide protection for the church and its members to prevent further interference and break down of law and order.

The church had accused Lagos State agencies, including Lagos State Building Control Agency, and officials of Surulere Local Government area of demolishing its building located at 36, Aina Street, Lawanson, Surulere.

It also accused the government of flouting a court order that restrained it from carrying out the demolition pending court decision.

“Since 2007, we have worshipped and served the community from this location. However, in January 2024, the Surulere Local Government notified us of plans to remove our building. This occurred despite an ongoing court case concerning the matter,” the Parish Pastor, Israel Adeagbo, said.

Our correspondent gathered that two days after demolishing the church, the government commenced the construction of shops on the land.

The ruling came following the failed peaceful settlement of the disputed land by the parties after the intervention of police and Christian Association of Nigeria.

The church accused the local government of undermining the settlement process by offering N10m compensation without adequate valuation of the land, demolished building and other lost property.

Speaking on the court’s ruling, counsel to the church, Taiwo Kupolati, SAN, disclosed that the decision followed a breakdown in attempts to reach an amicable resolution.

“A letter was delivered to the counsel to the church offering N10m as full and final compensation for both the demolished church building and the entire land.

“We responded immediately, requesting that a fair settlement should be based on a joint valuation by the local government’s valuer and the church’s valuer, and possibly the provision of an alternative land within the same community. But there was no response”, Kupolati said.

According to him, the refusal of the local government to further engage in the settlement process and its recent application for an extension of time to file a defence in court demonstrated that the council was no longer committed to resolving the dispute amicably.

“Now, settlement has completely broken down. Despite the peaceful way we approached them, they (local government) repaid us with silence and disregard. The local government, has proofed that they are no longer interested in a settlement, filed a statement of defence and an application for extension of time,” he said.

Kupolati added that the court’s ruling was a response to the church’s plea for justice and protection.

“We want to get back our land and seek sufficient compensation for the unlawful demolition of our church building.

“The court granted our prayers and now has restrained the local government from further interfering with our operations. Deeper Life Bible Church now has control of the land until the final determination of this case,” he added.

The court, however, noted that both parties were still free to pursue further dialogue, but warned against any violation of its order.