The Federal High Court in Lagos has mandated a fresh trial in a lawsuit filed by Alhaji Yekeen Idowu against KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, over claims of breach of contract and misconduct during his 2018 journey from Germany to Nigeria. Justice Musa Kakaki ruled that the case will restart on April 1, 2025, following legal debates on how to proceed after previous hearings were interrupted.
Idowu’s lawyer, Enitan Afolabi, argued that the case should begin anew due to its earlier partial hearing under Justice Awogboro, citing Section 23 of the Federal High Court Act. Afolabi expressed surprise at the defence’s request to continue from where the previous judge left off. In contrast, KLM’s lawyer, Fidelis Okeke, opposed the motion, blaming the Plaintiff’s team for the case’s prolonged delays since 2020. Okeke insisted the case should proceed directly to the defence stage.
The dispute originated from Idowu’s July 3, 2018, flight with KLM. The airline reportedly altered his itinerary, rerouting him through Paris and Casablanca instead of the originally agreed Stuttgart-Paris-Amsterdam-Lagos route. His flight was delayed by eight hours, earning him €600 in compensation, but the ordeal worsened in Paris and Morocco. He was abandoned in Casablanca for over 48 hours with no proper accommodations, no contact with his family or business associates, and allegedly subjected to harassment by Moroccan immigration authorities.
Now, Idowu is demanding a total of N45 million in damages, including €700 for an emergency flight from Casablanca to Lagos and N1.2 million for lost professional time. His legal team also claims that KLM ignored repeated legal demands, showing a lack of accountability for its actions.
As the case heads back to court, witness testimonies are expected from both sides, with each presenting one witness. The new hearing on April 1 will set the stage for this ongoing legal battle.
