A Nigerian family is demanding $1 million in damages from Kenya Airways over an alleged mishandling of their Christmas travel plans. The claim stems from an incident involving their daughter, a minor, who was reportedly denied boarding during a layover in Nairobi due to a clerical error, despite having her travel documents approved in Lagos.
The family, represented by Donald Ibebuike of Creed & Brooks Partners, described the airline’s actions as causing emotional distress, unplanned expenses, and disruption of their holiday plans. According to the letter sent to Kenya Airways on December 21, 2024, the family had purchased return tickets in August through Wakanow.com for a Christmas and New Year trip to the UK. Their journey began on December 16, with a planned itinerary involving a stopover at Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport before continuing to London.
However, at the Nairobi stopover, the airline reportedly refused to allow the minor, Gabriella Akhanemeh, to board the onward flight due to minor discrepancies in passport numbers, despite her name being correctly listed. Her father, Akhanememeh Joseph Osikhena, was forced to abandon the trip and stay with her in Nairobi, while his wife and two other children continued to London. The family claims Kenya Airways later required them to pay over $4,000 for their return to Nigeria, a demand the lawyer described as ill-conceived and traumatic.
The family is demanding the airline either complete the journey to London for the father and daughter or return them to Lagos at no additional cost, alongside the $1 million compensation for the ordeal. They argue that the clerical error, which had been accepted by the UK Border Agency, was no justification for abandoning the minor.
Kenya Airways has yet to respond to the allegations at the time of writing. Flight disputes are not uncommon, with cases like this often leading to legal battles. In a similar instance, Qatar Airways was recently ordered by a Nigerian court to pay damages for cancelling a passenger’s flight. Meanwhile, regulatory bodies in the ECOWAS region have introduced higher compensation rates for passengers affected by delays or cancellations, aiming to address such grievances.
