Bleep the British Air Ways, I don't blame them, I blame the Nigeria Government, after the incident in Iberia from Spain Nigeria suppose to ban most of this Foreign Airlines.

The federal government is taking an official position on the issue

Yar'Adua orders probe of British Airways incident
From Madu Onuorah, Abuja

PRESIDENT Umaru Musa Yar'Adua has directed the Minister of State for Transportation (Aviation), Mr Felix Hyatt, to begin an urgent investigation into a March 27, 2008 incident in which British Airways (BA) allegedly ordered more than 100 Nigerians off its London to Lagos flight "for protesting against the brutal treatment of a deportee aboard."

Yar'Adua, who is in Germany for a medical review, asked Hyatt to take all necessary measures and protect "the travelling public from the humiliation they face daily from foreign airlines."

A source told The Guardian that the President had seen reports of the incident from the British media, expressing "disgust" at the "seeming non-chalant attitude of BA officials."

He, therefore, directed that since the minister has not forwarded any report of the incident to his office, he should be formally written to investigate the incident and report back to him.

The source added: "The President is said to be concerned by the recent resurgence of complaints about the poor treatment, discrimination and downright abuse meted out to Nigerians by some foreign airlines operating in the country.

"The President has also directed the minister to make it absolutely clear to all foreign airlines operating in Nigeria that under no circumstance will his administration tolerate the subjection of Nigerian passengers to less than acceptable standards of treatment."

http://www.guardiannewsngr.com/news/article03//indexn2_html?pdate=230408&ptitle=Yar'Adua%20orders%20probe%20of%20British%20Airways%20incident

I mean it's "cool" that he wants to look into the matter but he should probably "probe" more into WHY he has to fly out to Germany for medical treatement and also why Nigeria doesnt have her own airline

But that's just me.

jay bee:

@ romeo
Why is the ipetition website making it mandatory to donate $2 upwards before one can support the action?
Hope it's not another ploy of the forever hungry/good for nothing naija fraudsters trying to cash in from something absolutely disgusting done to one of ours by BA.

ipetition is not a Nigerian site and the money they're begging for is not mandatory. You can give them if you want to support their server, I did not pay them any money and i got a mail telling me my petition was registered

simmy:

which petition?Nigerians are just silly!
have u been in aplane where most of the passengers are Nigerians its the definiton of chaos!!! nigerians are terribly aggressive and most of them think etiquette is the french word 4 mini skirt. I don't know what happnd on the BA flight but im willing to bet Ba had good enough reason to order them all off the flight. Nigerians behave like touts and expect the rest of the civilised world to treat them like gentlemen. See Nigeria people making a fool of us in London, dubai, jo-burg, practically everywhere! Nigerians should go n learn how to behave.

You are one of those silly Nigerians

Thank you for signing the "Nigerians boycott British Airways" petition
at iPetitions.com website.
Your signature is valuable and makes a real difference. Please
encourage others to sign the petition as well. To do that, just forward the
text below to everyone who might be interested:

------- FORWARD THIS TO YOUR FRIENDS -------
Hi,

I wanted to draw your attention to this important petition that I
recently signed:

"Nigerians boycott British Airways"
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/Nigerians_against_BA?e

I really think this is an important cause, and I'd like to encourage
you to add your signature, too. It's free and takes less than a minute of
your time.

Thanks!

that's the mail i got from them

Siena:

Especially lack of her own airline, TOH!

Man, you're really putting your stance out there aren't you? I don't what it was but I kind of got the impression that you were one of those types that always liked to sit on the fence when it came to topics like these. . .

I hope that Romeo guy is not another 419er or an opportunist taking advantage of a noble cause to advance his greed. Or worst, another BA agent to sabotage a decent effort just like Elosela and her likes. I guess it's high time to know who they really are. Wolfs in sheeps clothings, Nigeria will soon sort out her own anyway just a matter of time .

Rlst84sale:

I hope that Romeo guy is not another 419er or an opportunist taking advantage of a noble cause to advance his greed. Or worst, another BA agent to sabotage a decent effort just like Elosela and her likes. I guess it's high time to know who they really are. Wolfs in sheeps clothings, Nigeria will soon sort out her own anyway just a matter of time .

Better hope your dad is not a fraudster idiot!! you are using internet and you have never heard about ipetition? what is so difficult to understand about ipetition? i explained that the money is their own palava and that the Nigeria-BA petition has nothing to do with it and that your petition will be registered even if you did not donate to them

Talk about stupid people! you'll get them here plenty

D-reloaded:

I mean it's "cool" that he wants to look into the matter but he should probably "probe" more into WHY he has to fly out to Germany for medical treatement and also why Nigeria doesnt have her own airline

But that's just me.

To the best of my knowledge, Virgin Nigeria is Nigeria's national carier. You can check the media to confirm this.

nigeria ownes the controlling shares in virgin nigeria,so from a business perspective we own it as we have the controlling shares

for those of you still arguing whether Nigerians are doing the right thing by Boycotting BA here's the latest

Yar’Adua Orders Investigation Of Maltreatment Of Nigerians By Foreign Airlines

Source---------> http://www.nigeriavillagesquare.com/board/ba/46304-british-airways-yar-adua-orders-investigation-maltreatment-nigerians.html

By Ihuoma Chiedozie, Abuja: Published: Wednesday, 23 Apr 2008

President Umaru Yar’Adua has directed the Minister of State for Transportation in charge of Aviation, Mr. Felix Hyatt, to investigate reports of maltreatment of Nigerian passengers by foreign airlines.

The President, according to a source in the Presidency, was particularly miffed at an incident that took place on March 27, 2008, in which British Airways allegedly ordered over 100 Nigerians off its London–Lagos bound flight.

The passengers were reportedly protesting the brutal treatment of a Nigerian deportee aboard the flight.

The source said that Yar’Adua also directed the Aviation Minister to officially notify all foreign airlines operating in the country that the Federal Government would no longer tolerate the maltreatment of Nigerian passengers aboard their aircraft.

The source added that Yar’Adua expressed disgust at the nonchalant attitude of British Airways officials in response to the incident.

The President, it was learnt, also asked the minister to furnish him with a report of the development on the completion of the investigation.

The source explained that the President had so far not received any official report on the British Airways incident, and was only informed by reports in the media.

The source said, “The President is said to be concerned by the recent resurgence of complaints about the poor treatment, discrimination and downright abuse meted out to Nigerians by some foreign airlines operating in the country.

“The President has also directed the Minister to make it absolutely clear to all foreign airlines operating in Nigeria that under no circumstance will his administration tolerate the subjection of Nigerian passengers to less than acceptable standards of treatment.”

In another development, the President on Tuesday telephoned Lagos lawyer and human rights activist, Chief Gani Fawehinmi (SAN), in London to convey his personal best wishes to him on the occasion of his 70th birthday anniversary.

Nigerians I wish y'all will have a good mind for your brothers,

nwanyi,
you still dey fight the fight

Tantrum toddler 'thrown off' plane
A two-year-old boy was escorted off a British Airways plane along with his grandparents after he had a tantrum just before take-off.
The family of Marcello Ferrand, from Kensal Rise, north-west London say he panicked after the aircraft crew tried to fit him with a seatbelt.
Police were called and fellow passengers on the flight to Heathrow from Milan had to wait while the family was escorted off and their luggage was removed.
A BA spokeswoman said the crew had to ensure seatbelts were worn and the captain decided to remove the family for safety reasons.
'Quite aggressive'
She said as the plane was taxiing towards the runway on Sunday, one of the 100 passengers on board notified staff that a woman and child did not have their seatbelts fastened.
And when staff asked 70-year-old Mariella DeNatale to fasten her own and her grandson's seatbelts she refused to do so.
Marcello then became scared and hid under his seat.
Ms DeNatale's husband Peter Van Schalwyk, 64, said: "Three cabin staff crowded round him and were quite aggressive.
Legal requirement
"When one appeared with a special child seatbelt, Marcello took fright and hid under the seat.
"He was scared. He cried a bit but he was not screaming madly or anything.
"It's not like he was Dennis the Menace taking the plane apart."
The BA spokeswoman said: "It is a legal requirement for adults and children to wear a seatbelt for take-off and landing."
She said the captain decided he had no option but to turn aircraft back.

Hi Omoge,

Where u been?

The British carrier, British Airways, is in trouble as the Federal Government’s hammer may fall on it over the bad treatment it meted out to about 130 Nigerian passengers on board one of its flights in London Heathrow Airport on March 27. The indication came on Thursday when the Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Dr. Harold Demuren, summoned the airline management the issue.


At the meeting, the British carrier was asked to behave well in treating Nigerian passengers or get sanctioned by the Federal Government.


The foreign carrier was also given between now and next Monday to furnish the director-general with information on its compensation plan for the affected passengers.


Besides this, the airline was asked to give full details on the March 27 incident and also give detailed operation with regard to flight schedule, its actual arrival and departures in the last six months.


Other offences the airline was accused of by Nigerian passengers and across the globe include baggage delays, flights cancellation, overbooking, among others.


Leading the BA officers to the meeting was one Mr Tunji Seymour,Peku Willie Emretane. The NCAA boss at the meeting frowned on the absence of the European staff of the airline who work in the airline’s office in Nigeria at the meeting.


The airline had in its reaction attributed its behaviour to the attitude of the Nigerian passengers, which it claimed, could pose security risk.

I went to Heathrow on the day of the incident in the eve to see someone going on teh BA flight to Abuja and the Check-in lady related her own version of the story in explaning why the abuja flight was so full was cos the lagos passengers had to be put on the abuja flight having been asked to get off their own morning flight cos "they teamed up and demanded that a deportee shul not be deported, cos the deportee was shouting that he didn't want to go"

I was a bit amused though was wondering as the solidarity moves by the passengers n whether Police officers were not in attendance. At least now I've heard the story from a 'participant' s' mouth. Na wah oh, God give us the strength to stand up f0r our people for once.

Madueke, British Envoy Meet over ‘Nigerian Deportee’
By Chinedu Eze in Lagos and Damilola Oyedele in Abuja, 04.25.2008

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The Foreign Affairs Minister, Chief Ojo Madueke and the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Robert Dewar Have held talks over the British Airways incident of March 27, 2008 where over a 100 Nigerians were ordered off a Lagos bound aircraft for protesting against the inhuman treatment of a Nigerian deportee.
Madueke met with Dewar in his office in Abuja yesterday where he reiterated that President Yar’Adua’s posture on Citizen Diplomacy would not tolerate the inhuman treatment of any Nigerian for any reason, even when there are allegations of criminal activities.
He added that the bilateral relationship which the two nations have enjoyed over the years has ensured the temperate reactions to the matter, but to maintain it, Nigerians must be treated with dignity within and outside the shores of the country.
He appreciated the British government’s interest in the matter while urging Nigerians abroad to always comply with the laws of their countries of residence.Dewar gave the assurance that he had taken a special interest in the matter and would dig to find more information.
He appreciated Nigeria’s effort in peace keeping and conflict resolutions globally, while assuring Nigerians that the British government is educating its business community to be of best practice.
Meanwhile, the Director-General, Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Dr Harold Demuren, has condemned attitude of British Airways over the way it responded to the Federal Government's invitation to explain why it maltreated Nigerian passengers on its flight 0075, that left London to Lagos on March 27.
Demuren, who was directed to investigate the matter by the Federal Government, invited the airline who sent its junior officials to the meeting.
Peeved by the attitude, Demuren terminated the meeting and directed the airline to come at a later date with its top officers as representatives, remarking that the airline should not treat an issue, which the Federal Government is interested in with such levity.
Commenting on the issue, Minister of State for Air Transportation, Mr Felix Hyat, told newsmen when he visited Lagos on Wednesday, that government was miffed by the report and said it would give it full priority after the investigation by NCAA.
Hyat condemned the incident, and said maltreatment of Nigerian passengers by foreign airlines must stop, noting that government must ensure that similar thing never happen again.
Early last year, former Minister of State, Air Transport, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, also condemned BA’s treatment of its Nigerian passengers.
On March 27 this year, about 137 Nigerian passengers on board British Airways flight 0075 from London to Lagos, witnessed the gory treatment of a Nigerian deportee who was handcuffed and forced into the flight.
The way he was manhandled made the deportee to shout for help, which prompted a Nigerian passenger, Ayodeji Omotade, to call the British immigration officials manhandling the deportee to exercise restraint.
Angered by this, the immigrations officials took the deportee and the sympathiser out of the plane, arrested the later and detained him, while the deportee was latervreturned to the flight.
Outraged by the incident, Nigerians who either witnessed or read the report in the British tabloid, Daily Mirror, wrote a protest letter, signed by over 1000 Nigerians, to the President, the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, demanding a front page apology in a Nigerian national daily newspaper to all passengers on-board flight BA0075, a written apology and appropriate compensation to Mr Ayo Omotade, lifting of the life ban imposed on him by the airline, and all criminal charges against him dropped forthwith.
But in a swift reaction, the British Airways in a statement, however, stated that it was right, and quoted the UK Immigration Act 1971, to back the action.


http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=109676

From todays The Nation newspaper by a passenger on the flight


The B.A 75 affair: A testimony 26/4/2008
Louisodion@yahoo.com
By Louis Odion

For a nation often thought unshockable, it is quite strange that a mere report by London Daily Mail two weeks ago of the manhandling exactly a month ago (March 27) of a Nigerian deportee aboard British Airways flight 75 is now provoking a national outrage. Even stranger is the Tuesday presidential order issued the aviation minister to probe the circumstances surrounding the incident given that it would seem just any official dereliction can now be explained away in the name of "due process" and "rule of law".

Obviously unsettled in his sick bed in Germany by the international opprobrium the story has generated, Presidential Umar Yar’Adua asked Minister Felix Hyatt to inquire into how more than 100 Nigerian passengers were short of chased off the air vessel that day for protesting the brutal treatment of a Nigerian deportee.

Incidentally, I happen to be one of the unlucky passengers scheduled to fly London to Lagos that day. Aware that fellow Nigerians had suffered even worse fate in the past (in fact, yet another Nigerian deportee was brought into Abuja stone dead aboard the same B.A only few weeks back!) without heavens falling, one had deliberately kept silence all these days for two reasons. One, I didn’t want to be branded an ingrate to Almighty God for little mercies (on account of the relatively "lesser" degree of trauma suffered on March 27). Two, I was partly persuaded such is one of the indignities we citizens of Nigerians are left to suffer for our failing nationhood.

But with the Yar’Adua charge of Tuesday, I changed my mind, hoping the following testimony will help lighten Hyatt’s burden in seeking to unravel the truth in the days ahead. To start with, it is a gross abuse of language to so describe what transpired that day in such tepid terms. To most of the Lagos-bound passengers (yours sincerely inclusive), it was nothing short of a slow-motion horror movie that lasted four days (details of which shall soon become apparent).

That fateful Thursday, we were finally re-boarded six hours later, 6p.mLondon time (7p.m Nigerian time). By the time we arrived Lagos, it was 1.20a.m. (Friday morning). Many (including nursing mothers) had to loiter the arrival hall till daylight before venturing to their next destinations. I am not aware anyone was paid any compensation for all the inconveniences.

Like most tragedies, the March 27 incident left no fore-warning. Boarding was completed about 12.40p.m. It was not a full flight. I had taken a window seat, savouring the huge spectacle presented by the London skyline on a sunny afternoon after grueling days of snow, thrilled by the thoughts of imminent return to my motherland on the other side of the Atlantic, gladden by the prospects of being spared further torture of the freezing European cold.

While awaiting the pilot’s final announcement of take-off, I then busied myself with the collection of British dailies I bought at the duty free shop. Of course, the headlines that day were dominated by the visiting French president, Sarkozy, who had arrived London the previous day. Then, minutes rolled into an hour. Glimpses of what lay ahead began to appear shortly afterwards when a group of cops barged into the cabin and marched towards the rear of Boeing 747 aircraft. More followed as the minutes ticked by.

Ordinarily, the atmosphere inside an aircraft about to take off should be serene. The reason is partly circumstantial. It is an assemblage of people of diverse backgrounds, sometimes left to cast furtive glances at each other under the yoke of unfamiliarity. And more importantly, for the majority, even more overbearing is the feeling of anxiety about the journey ahead.

But unlike the accustomed serenity, what soon filled the cabin this afternoon was a cacophony of raised voices from the rear of the aircraft. It was only then words began to go round that a prospective deportee was on board, handcuffed and kept in one of the last rows like a wild beast.

To be sure, deportation is a normal occurrence in international law. What is, however, considered strange in civil aviation – especially in this modern age - is the handcuffing of the passenger and/or sealing his/her mouth with adhesive tape as some foreign countries are now fond of doing to Nigerian deportees. It is unknown to all known regulations of international aviation including the Warsaw Convention.

Obviously, Ayodeji was being deported against his wish March 27. He kept crying that "Please, my brother is going to wed tomorrow. I have to be there".

Apparently haunted by the memory of the tragedy that had occurred between London Heathrow and Abuja not too long ago (in which a handcuffed deportee died in transit), some fellow Nigerians sitting close to the deportee that day now reportedly protested to the presiding security agents: "Treat this man like a human being! You can’t deport him like this!" The protest was led by one Ayodeji Omotade.

Meanwhile, before more British cops swarmed the cabin like enraged bees, Omotade was able to make contacts with the Immigration department at Heathrow to protest the inhuman manner the deportee was being handled. From the scraps of hints one could piece together, a lawyer claiming to be acting on behalf of the deportee also alerted the immigration department against the "illegality" being perpetrated aboard B.A. Flight 75. Thus, a stalemate was created.

Predictably, the about 20 policemen present in the cabin thereafter vented their spleen on both the deportee and Omotade. I personally watched five cops hustling the deportee down the aisle from the rear half naked towards the exit (to imagine the freezing cold outside!), his two hands held apart by four of them in a motion of torture. From the look in their eyes, they no doubt enjoyed watching their quarry belching out animal shrieks from the pit of pain repeatedly. Given the usually racist temperament of the British establishment, I would be surprised if this platoon of twenty super-efficient cops were not patted on their backs later at their station that day for such exemplary resourcefulness in the torture of this irritant from another slum of Africa.

By now, the time had clocked 2.30p.m (more than two hours behind schedule!). The British authorities resolved to punish all the passengers for the "insolence" of a few at the back who dared protest the inhumanity meted to the deportee. We were all ordered to evacuate the cabin together with our hand luggage for "fresh boarding". Of course, the only vague explanation offered by the B.A officials was that "the exercise is for security reasons".

Confused, a young lady sitting behind me asked a cop standing by: "What exactly is going on?"

To this legitimate inquiry, these exactly were the rotten words spewed by this British police officer: "I said get the f, king out of the plane and stop asking me stupid questions!". Were a parade conducted tomorrow, I personally won’t have any difficulty identifying the chap with his overgrown moustache and unblinking eyes of a wild cat.

Back in the departure hall, passengers were issued a five British Pound Sterling voucher to buy "refreshment" of sandwich and water while awaiting the proverbial Godot. But no one is sure how much B.A. would, in turn, debit the British Government for the losses suffered on account of this disruption in the process of ferrying the Nigerian deportee. We had to wait another three hours before being boarded for the six-hour journey. Of course, the deportee and Omotade had been whisked away.

We finally took off from London just when we should have commenced initial descent into Lagos. By now, everyone was visibly too exhausted to raise a voice further in protest before or during the journey.

We finally taxied to a stop at Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos at about 1.10a.m. More trouble: most passengers were told their luggage were left behind in London. We were asked to come back later in the evening (of Friday) with proofs of ownership to claim our belongings. Notwithstanding the hour of the day, I still managed to get home at about 2.20A.M, thanks to the abiding love of my folks who drove over and had kept vigil before midnight. As if to add salt to injury, the delivery of my two luggage would be staggered: I got one on Saturday and the last on Sunday.

I have heard B.A. issuing statement after the London Mail report suggesting it does not give a damn about March 27. In fact, the airline has even announced a six-month ban on the said Nigerian who led the protest against Ayodeji’s maltreatment that day. This should not come as a big surprise to us. It is consistent with the institutional hubris of the British in the face of the abdication of responsibility by the Nigerian authorities. By such arrogant statement, the impression created is that the British carrier is the one doing Nigeria’s traveling public a big favour by flying London-Lagos and London-Abuja. No argument could be more egregiously fallacious.

More insult: B.A. Thursday sent two "junior" officers to honour a summon by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA). In anger, NCAA Director General, Dr. Harold Demuren, had to cancel the meeting, expressing displeasure that the British carrier chose to treat an issue in which Federal Government is interested with such levity.

But note that such arrogance is only possible because we had always gladly accepted the slavish role assigned us in the Anglo-Nigerian relations. The Nigerian routes surely remain cash cow for B.A. Beneath this arrangement is a culture of predation that dates back to colonial history. Ironically, it is on the same routes that B.A. treats Nigerian passengers with contempt. In the absence of official sanctions, it carries on with impunity.

B.A is, in turn, backed by the home government which deliberately creates institutional barriers against competition from Nigerian carriers. Today, the British aviation authorities will not allow a Nigerian carrier like Arik fly directly into Heathrow, perhaps out of fear that the latter has enough clout to give it a keen competition in terms of deployment of better vessels. For this reason, the British aviation authorities now say they have given frequencies to Arik, but no slot! It is like being admitted into a disco hall and then told you can’t join the dance. If Arik were flying London Heathrow, I, for instance, would not have flown B.A. in the first instance.

Looking back, if not for the barbarity of the British agents in hand-cuffing Ayodeji that day, I can’t see myself holding brief for a fellow citizen about to be deported unlike the average Nigerian under the circumstance, however. The British have every right to throw us out of their country if they so wish. Rather, we should take such rejection as a challenge to build a better country for ourselves. Nation-building is a collective effort. It starts from voting right and being committed to making the ballot count.

Having said that, we as a people should, I think, also be courageous enough to look ourselves in the mirror and tell ourselves the truth. I think it is also high time we probed deeper into the psychology of the average Nigerian. If we are looked down on outside, it is partly because of the way we present ourselves. Truth be told, we are treated with contempt because of the lie some of us like to live. What is it that makes people quickly resign their professional jobs in Nigeria to move over and gladly accept demeaning jobs of toilet-cleaner in London or United States? What is it that makes the average Nigerian abroad quickly slip on industrial hand-gloves and literally mummify himself/herself with layers of thick jacket to be able to go out and work in the winter? He/she seems to forget that if only half of such spirit of enterprise had been exhibited back home, national productivity would have been boosted ultimately.

I disagree it is all about money. If bread is all a man should live for, someone like Dr. Mike Adenuga Jnr. should not be in Nigeria today. With the kind of fortune he has, he can afford to live the rest of his life in any corner of the universe comfortably. But despite being hounded out of Nigeria in 2006, Adenuga continued to long for a return. He did not give up until commonsense prevailed last year. The reason is simple: there is no place like home. For all the gold and silver in the world, I can’t see myself clinging to a society where I am not welcomed. For me, nowhere compares with my own country, its many manifestations of ugliness notwithstanding. It is high time the youths – especially the impressionable ones – started internalizing this in their sub-conscious.

brillian write up and it has addressed everything that happened that day in my opinion,i only hope the people blaming mr omotade for protesting and saying next time he will shut up and supporting the british establishment read this all through,

follyfly:

Obviously, Ayodeji was being deported against his wish March 27. He kept crying that "Please, my brother is going to wed tomorrow. I have to be there".

The deportee was Augustine Eme who is a member of Massob according to some reports and the email was not from "Louis Odion" Louisodion@yahoo.com but from "Ikioduwa osarodion" kioduwa_osarodion@yahoo.com

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/a-world-of-casual-racism-exposed-at-ba-815842.html

actions should be taken,

and guess what, the NBA is suing BA
http://punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art200804293422851

and I hope this is not all but noise that will just fade away.

Little Update,

THE Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), its president, Mr Olisa Agbakoba (SAN) and a Nigerian citizen, Mr. Ayo Omotade, have dragged British Airways before a Lagos High Court, over the manhandling, molestation and inhuman treatment mated to Omotade, while aboard British Airways, last month for daring to question the inhumane treatment mated out to another Nigeria, being deported to Nigeria from Britain.
Omotade, who had while aboard British Airways, observed the deportation of a Nigerian, who was handcuffed, yet being further restrained and manhandled violently, had gently approached the officers tormenting the deportee and asked them not to kill him.


But was later told to get off the plane and not to travel with the airline because the cabin crew claimed he had been disruptive by questioning the noise being caused by the deportee that was removed.



Omotade, after being prevented from traveling, was later arrested, handcuffed and detained and is being prosecuted in London, over the money found on him, which he was bringing to his family in Nigeria.



Plaintiffs in the suit are further asking the court to declare that the arrest, detention, harassment, humiliation, intimidation, jettisoning, manhandling, molestation, persecution, threatening and tormenting of Omotade on or about March 27, 2008 on board the respondent’s Flight BA075, from London to Lagos without warrant or lawful justification by British police and law enforcement officers, with the assistance, co-operation and support of the officers and crew of the respondent, in the circumstances of this case, are unlawful in the municipal laws of both Nigeria and the United Kingdom.


As well as in international law, and violate Omotade rights guaranteed him by sections 34(1), 35(1), 39(1), 41(1) and 42(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999; articles 2, 4, 5, 6, 12, 16(1), 19 and 23 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights; and articles 1 to 7, 9, 13 and 28 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights.



The court is also asked for an order of perpetual injunction restraining the respondent, its officers or crew or any of them, whether by themselves, their agents, officers, privies or servants, or otherwise howsoever, from doing or attempting or purporting to do, or letting any authority or person do or attempt or purport to do on the respondent’s flights, any of the following: arresting, detaining, harassing, humiliating, intimidating, jettisoning, manhandling, molesting, persecuting, threatening or tormenting Omotade, or in any other manner contravening the Omotade fundamental rights.

The applicants are contending that the suit is predicated on the grounds that the respondent’s grievous desecration of the applicants’ fundamental human rights offends not only the municipal laws of the jurisdictions to which the parties respectively belong, but also international law.

source---->>http://www.nigeriavillagesquare.com/board/ba/47033-heat-ba-nba-others-drag-ba-court.html#post4295011516ource

I might be wrong, but surely the legal action has to be instituted in the UK, which is where the alleged wrong took place.
I can't see how a Lagos High court would have jurisdiction over an event which did not take place within its jurisdiction.
If for example a similar set of circumstances had taken place in eg Oyo state then it would be to Oyo and not Lagos the NBA would bring any action.

Anyway, I am sure the best legal minds in Nigeria are on the case so I shall observe with interest.

lucabrasi:

brillian write up and it has addressed everything that happened that day in my opinion,i only hope the people blaming mr omotade for protesting and saying next time he will shut up and supporting the british establishment read this all through,

I wouldn't hold my breath if I were you.

Haha that was amazingly funny. Tis true there must be something more warranting of President Sickar'do's time than this.

thanks guys for all the nice posts

big_bumper:

I wouldn't hold my breath if I were you.

im not even holding it or the blood flowing to my brains will be cut off, lol we have more than enough nigerians to stand up and be counted

lucabrasi:

im not even holding it or the blood flowing to my brains will be cut off, lol we have more than enough nigerians to stand up and be counted

Phew, we finally agree on something, you this modakeke guy .

big_bumper:

Phew, we finally agree on something, you this modakeke guy .

aww, im a reasonable dude,

Virgin Nigeria is owned by Nigeria.

51% owned by Nigeria and 49% owned by Virgin. Virgin is responsible for the day to day management of the airline, the Virgin brand is very successful, experienced and well recognised hence the huge percentage. Over time perhaps after their initial contract Virgin will sell more shares to Nigeria.

Therefore Nigerian national airline is VIRGIN NIGERIA.

British Airways should be sanctioned for that act. If a Nigerian Airline maltreats a Briton the British authorities will not find that funny. They would go far by telling the whole world what happened.

@elosela
i just read ur comments off an old thread(well not that old)
we tend to be clinically level headed when we are not the object of ridicule
which being obvious to all, is ur disposition in this matter, i wonder wat will be ur reaction if the naija guy killed by spanish officers during deportation was ur brother would you still be sounding so eloquent and then lets look at another scenario if a british guy was being manhandled during deportation from naija what would be the reaction of the british authorities , when you invariably imply that its alright to treat a fellow nigerian condescendingly simply because he voiced out concern, where does that leave you as a person, enough said , godspeed with your attitude.