The legal hostility between the widow of Deji Falae, son of Chief Olu Falae, and Associated Airline rages on in the court room.
The younger Falae died in the ill fated Associated Airline crash in Lagos two years ago.
Nigeria Civil Aviation Agency is the second defendant in the suit.
The widow Ese Lynn Falae and her three children are demanding for compensation in the sum of N245.5million which they calculated their bread winner would have made in 15 years, less living expenses, cash discount and the statutory limit of One hundred thousand Dollars or in the alternative the sums of N113,277,750,£160,740 and $19,000.
A thirty-seven paragraph statement of claim has been filed before a Federal High Court in Lagos south west Nigeria on her behalf and her three children, Ayomide, a 15 year old SSS 2 student at Day Waterman College Abeokuta, Miss Omowonuola Falae 13,the only daughter, also a JSS3 student in the same college and Oreoluwa ,a 7 year old primary three pupil at Corona School,Lagos
The affidavit filed by Olajide Oyewole says that Deji Falae was born on 9th of October,1970 and was aged 42 at the time of his death. He was a Legal practitioner called to the Nigerian Bar. In 2013, at the time of his death, he was serving as Commissioner for Culture and Tourism in Ondo state, Nigeria.
Until his death, he also operated a law firm under the name and style of Ayodeji Falae and company. He also carried on the business of building and construction under the name West -One Resources Limited.
With the consent of Associated Aviation Nigeria Limited he was a passenger on board the defendant’s Flight 361 that took off on 3 October, 2013 from Murtala Mohammed International Airport,Lagos to Akure, Ondo State.
As part of the Ondo State Government’s funeral arrangements of the late Olusegun Agagu, former Governor of Ondo state who died on 13th of September,2013.in Lagos,the deceased and some other Ondo state Government Officers were directed by the Governor of Ondo state to support the family of late Agagu for Agagu’s funeral that was scheduled to hold on 4th of October,2013.
On 3rd of October,2013, Deji Falae, along with some Agagu family members,Ondo state Government officials, pall bearers boarded the defendant’s Flight 361 chartered to lift the remains of late Agagu from Murtala Mohammed Airport, Lagos to Akure Ondo State. At about 09.32hours, and about a minute after take off from the Airport the Aircraft crashed as a result of the wrongful act,neglect or default of the defendants. The deceased died as a result of the crash. As a result of this incident,the plaintiffs being the defendants of the deceased have suffered damages.
The affidavit claimed that as at the time of the death of the deceased,he made about N10million annually from his law firm practice. As a commissioner in Ondo state,he received the sum of N5million annually as employment income. He also made N20million annually from his building and construction business. A total of N8.750million was expended annually by the deceased as his living expenses, He would have made N262.5 million in fifteen years.
The widow averred further that as the bread winner,the deceased until his death paid the rent of a five bedroom duplex at Dolphin Estate Lagos where they lived with him until his untimely death, and since his death the burden of paying the rent has been on her. This wouldn’t have been if the deceased was alive. The deceased would have equally paid the school fees of his children to the completion of their education.
It was the practice of the deceased to pay all expenses of the plaintiffs for at least a five-day vacation outside Nigeria every year.
The plaintiffs also incurred the sum of N2.5million as expenses during the funeral of the deceased carried out on 14th November,2013.which would not have been incurred had the plaintiffs not by their wrongful act,neglect or default caused the death of the deceased. The plaintiffs have also incurred legal practitioners’ fees in the sum of N5million in prosecuting this suit.
However Associated Aviation Nigeria Limited while referring to the suit as gold digging, in a statement of defence supported with written statement on oath by Taiwo Raji, its Chief Operating Officer and filed before the court by the law firm of M.A.Bashua denied almost all the averment of the widow. The company also denied that it was negligent in handling the Aircraft. It said it was not in any way liable to the plaintiffs as claimed in their statement of claim.
In further denial of the claim the Airline averred that there was nothing wrong with the Aircraft at the time of take-off,neither did the Aircraft develop any mechanical faults,as the Aircraft was thoroughly checked prior to take -off.
Consequently,the defendant averred that the plaintiffs are neither experts nor the statutory body responsible for investigating accidents of this nature and there is nothing before the court to show or proof negligence on its part
The Airline further contended that the plaintiffs having not obtained letters of administration cannot claim damages under common law, Fatal Accidents Act 1846 and Fatal Incidents law of Lagos state.
The widow was alleged to have collected agreement forms to receive initial immediate payment of thirty thousand Dollars and promised to return them together with the necessary documentation linking her with the deceased but failed to do so till date. consequently the plaintiffs claim of #219,906,250 amounts to gold digging,
In addition,the defendant further contended that the plaintiffs are not entitled to the reliefs been sought as they are not Administrators of the estate of the alleged late Ayodeji Olaniran Falae..
I therefore urged the court to dismiss the suit with substantial costs,as the suit is frivolous and lacks merit.
Meanwhile,the court has adjourned till 4th of November,2015 for hearing.

Na wa o. How did they know he would be able to make that much over that period of time if he were still to be alive?

Mtchew

She cant even win the case,
Agagu family gave the contract to deji falae to arrange a good airline for the remains of agagu, but instead he went for a low budgeted flight, just to enrich himself. The silly mistake cost him his life. So who's to be blamed?