Nigerian Passenger Sues British Airways Over Alleged Missing Carry-On Bag
A Nigerian passenger, Mr. Amechi Michael, has taken legal action against British Airways over the alleged disappearance of his carry-on luggage during a delayed boarding process, with the Federal High Court in Abuja fixing July 2 for continuation of hearing in the matter.
According to court proceedings, the plaintiff told the court that the incident occurred after a cabin crew member reportedly requested that he hand over his carry-on bag for safekeeping during boarding delays. He claimed the luggage was never returned to him after the flight.
During cross-examination before Justice Obiora Egwuatu, Amechi Michael explained that he initially reported the issue to the airline’s customer service department and was later referred to the UK-based Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR) for arbitration.
The plaintiff disclosed that although the arbitration ruling favored him over the delayed flight issue, it allegedly failed to address the disappearance of the carry-on luggage, which he described as the central aspect of his complaint. Dissatisfied with the outcome, he rejected the arbitral award and approached the Nigerian court seeking redress.
Amechi argued before the court that British Airways owed him a duty of care after its staff allegedly took custody of the luggage. He accused the airline of negligence and demanded compensation over the missing bag.
Counsel to the plaintiff, Abiola Olaitan, informed the court of plans to close the claimant’s case, while the defence team is expected to open its arguments when the matter resumes on July 2.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1293/2025, adds to growing concerns among Nigerian air travelers regarding lost luggage, delayed flights, and airline accountability in international aviation services.
