Alleged Denied Boarding: President Buhari’s Surgeon Drags British Airways To Court

Dr Sherifat Hassan, a Consultant Otolaryngologist at the State House Clinic in Aso Rock, Abuja, and one of President Muhammadu Buhari’s Ear, Nose, and Throat Surgeons, has sued British Airways, the country’s flag carrier airline, for breach of contract of air transport. SUIT NO: FHC/ABJ/CS/1119/2021 was filed by Dr Sherifat through her lawyer, Abdulmajeed Oloriegbe, Esq, before the Federal High Court.

Dr Sherifat and two of her children are asking the court to declare that BA breached the contract of carriage by denying them access to board the airline without prior notice despite meeting all requirements for their trip to Los Angeles, USA for vacation and some personal functions, and that BA’s conduct in doing so is oppressive and illegal, according to a copy of the writ of summons seen by our correspondent.

In addition, the Claimants are seeking $15,000 in damages for the claimed breach.

The Plaintiff was present in Federal High Court 6, presided over by Hon. Justice I. E. Ekwo, on the 6th of December, 2021, and was represented by M. I. Arikewuyo of the law firm OLORIEGBE & CO, while BA was represented by Zaid Jubril of the chambers of J. B. Majiyagbe & Co. Jubril informed the court that BA had approached the Plaintiff for an amicable solution, and the court gave leave for that to be explored while the case was delayed until February 3, 2022 for a settlement report.

However, According to the Plaintiff’s counsel, Abdulmajeed Oloriegbe, Esq, while it is true that BA approached his client for a settlement and that he had discussed the matter with BA’s lawyer, Folorunsho Majiyagbe SAN, nothing serious has come out of the discussions, and the Plaintiffs will have no choice but to proceed with the case hearing unless the matter is resolved.