A Lagos based lawyer Mr Ikechukwu Chiaha on Wednesday told a Federal High Court, Lagos, that he lost a brief worth N50 million due to flight cancellation by Arik Airline Limited.
Chiaha was testifying at the resumed hearing of his suit against the airline over alleged cancellation of his flight to Abuja.
Led in evidence by his counsel, Mr Olayemi Olasunkanmi, Chiaha told the court that he purchased an Arik air ticket through Zenith Bank on August 31, 2010 to Abuja, to handle a case on behalf of his client.
He said he was issued a boarding pass, number ETKT 7252416610757-1, and that the flight was billed to depart Lagos for Abuja at 7.30 on Sept. 1, 2010.
Chiaha told the court that he arrived at the airport as early as 5.45am and was checked in by Arik officials, and eventually took his seat aboard the plane.
He said the plane never took off as scheduled, until 10am, when the officials finally announced that the plane was grounded due to Arik's failure to pay navigational charges to the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA).
The plaintiff told the court that he was forced to travel to Abuja by another airline, but by the time he arrived, he had been debriefed by his client who said he was not diligent enough to handle the case.
The lawyer said the flight cancellation caused him “untold hardship as he lost the brief worth N50 million.
Justice Yunusa adjourned the case to June 18 for continuation of trial.
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