Passenger drags British Airways to court over alleged missing carry-on luggage as Abuja court fixes July 2 for continuation of hearing.

The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed July 2 for the continuation of hearing in a suit filed by passenger Amechi Michael against British Airways over an allegedly missing carry-on bag.

At the resumed hearing on Friday, Michael told the court that he reported the incident to the airline’s customer care service and was later referred to the UK-based Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution. He explained that while an arbitrator awarded compensation for a delayed flight, the issue of the missing luggage was not addressed.
Dissatisfied with the arbitral award, Michael rejected the outcome and subsequently approached the Federal High Court in Abuja seeking legal redress.
The plaintiff told the court that during a delayed boarding process, a cabin crew member requested that he hand over his bag for safekeeping, assuring him that it would be returned upon arrival.
According to documents before the court, the luggage was never returned despite several complaints made to the airline.
Michael argued that British Airways owed him a duty of care and alleged negligence on the part of the airline’s staff in handling the bag.
Counsel to the plaintiff, Abiola Olaitan and Shuaib O. Hammed of Parvina Partners, informed the court of their intention to close the plaintiff’s case after cross-examination by defence counsel John Godwin, who held the brief of Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Folorunsho Majiyagbe.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu subsequently adjourned the matter until July 2 for the defence to open its case.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1293/2025, seeks the recovery of the carry-on luggage allegedly lost while in the custody of the airline.
The case adds to the growing number of complaints by Nigerian air travellers concerning lost baggage, delayed flights, and airline accountability within the international aviation sector.