A Nigerian family has demanded $1 million in general damages and compensation from Kenya Airways over an allegedly botched Christmas trip involving their daughter, a minor.
The family, represented by Donald Ibebuike of Creed & Brooks Partners law firm, accused the airline of causing emotional distress, financial losses, and disrupting their holiday plans.
In a letter dated December 21, 2024, addressed to the Managing Director of Kenya Airways Ltd in Lagos and copied to its Nairobi office, the family outlined their grievances. According to the letter, the family purchased return tickets through Wakanow.com on August 31, 2024, intending to travel to the United Kingdom for a Christmas and New Year holiday.
On December 16, 2024, the family began their journey from Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, and were issued boarding passes after Kenya Airways processed their travel documents. However, upon arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Nairobi, the airline allegedly refused to allow their daughter, Ms. Gabriella Ikhianosimeh Akhanemeh, to board the connecting flight to London due to ‘clerical errors’ in her travel documents.
The letter stated that despite the minor’s passport details being processed and accepted in Lagos, discrepancies in the passport numbers cited by the UK Border Agency were flagged in Nairobi. The family argued that the airline should have resolved the clerical error rather than leaving the minor stranded.
As a result, the father, Mr. Akhanememeh Joseph Osikhena, had to abandon his journey to attend to his daughter, while his wife and two other children continued to London.
The family claims Kenya Airways further demanded over $4,000 for the father and daughter to return to Lagos, an action described as ‘infamous and ill-conceived’ by their lawyer.
In the letter, the family demanded that Kenya Airways either facilitate the completion of their journey to London or return them to Lagos at no extra cost, alongside the payment of $1 million in damages within seven days.
The law firm emphasized that failure to meet these demands would result in legal action.
At the time of publishing this report, Kenya Airways had not responded to the allegations.