Passenger demands for missing baggage from Bellview Airlines
ADA DIKE
One year after Mrs. Omoniyi Eunice’s baggage got missing on board a Bellview flight to London, the airline has remained adamant in responding to its client’s request for her luggage. Copies of letters made available to Lagos Weekend revealed that Bellview has treated its client’s demand to get her baggage with levity. Three letters written by Omoniyi’s solicitors, Gbenga Ojekunle & Associates dated December 21, 2007, January 10, 2008 and May 30, 2008 stated that Mrs. Omoniyi Eunice boarded Bellview flight No. B30283 from Heathrow Airport, London to Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos between December 15 and 16 2007. She had an excess luggage which she was made to pay the sum of L50, but on arrival in Lagos, her luggage was declared missing by the airline. Her solicitors’ letter stated; “Our client was made to pay the sum of L50 for excess luggage, but on arrival in Lagos, her luggage was declared missing by your airlines and all attempts at retrieving same after numerous visits by our clients to your office at the airport have proved abortive.

Attached herewith is property irregularity report No. 003134 with our client’s details.” The missing baggage, according to Gbenga Ojekunle & Associates contains five pairs of adult shoes, three Gucci perfumes, three men wrist watches, 18 Carat gold jewelry, drugs, food items. Her solicitors demanded the return of her baggage with the contents or payments of the sum L1, 985.oo. The third letter written to the Managing Director of Bellview Airlines Limited reads; “We refer to our letter of January 10, 2008 in respect of demand for the missing baggage or the monetary value, copy of which is herewith annexed for ease of reference. We also enclosed all the attachments to the said letter and the proof of delivery. We are disappointed that you have failed to respond to the letter till date. “We have so far restrained from taking any step that will cause your airlines any embarrassment in view of the fact we do not intend to portray any of our indigenous airlines in bad light. “…We therefore give you additional seven days within which to respond to our client’s claims, failing which we shall proceed with our instructions without any further notice to you.”

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