DANA Air Unwilling To Pay—Victim

DANA Air, the airline whose plane crashed on 3 June in Lagos, southwest Nigeria, killing more than 150 people and destroying many houses, is unwilling to pay compensation, a victim alleged on Friday.

Pastor Omowumi Daniel Oluranti, who threatened early this week to go to court over N500 million compensation claim he is demanding from the airline, said the company has not contacted him since he made the threat.

“Up till this moment, DANA has not contacted me. This is a clear indication that DANA management is made up of wicked people,” the victim alleged on Friday.

“They have no choice but to pay for what they have destroyed. They will be making a big mistake if they think they can get away with it,” he added.

Oluranti had claimed that his six-bedroom duplex, a four-bedroom bungalow and two standard warehouses located at 8/10 Popoola Street, Iju-Ishaga, Lagos, were completely destroyed by the crash.

He claimed he had been homeless since the incident took place.

But DANA Air, in a statement, said that everyone will be compensated but due process must be followed, adding that the victim had earlier rejected N500,000 for a temporary accommodation.

“Dana Air would like to reaffirm that all claims are being handled by our insurers in accordance with the law. Cogent efforts to provide temporary relief to the displaced Iju-Ishaga residents were made on July 3, 2012 when the airline presented cheques to the affected residents; two families declined the offer citing personal reasons,” said Tony Usidamen, the airline’s Head of Corporate Communications.

“We would like to, once again, reassure all affected residents that compensation shall be paid by our insurers in accordance with the law,” he said.

Oluranti has called on President Goodluck Jonathan, Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State and the Minister of Aviation, Mrs Stella Oduah, to intervene in the matter and compel Dana airline to discharge its responsibility to him in accordance with the law.

His solicitors, Messrs Dele Adesina & Co, have forwarded a comprehensive letter of claim to the airline and are still awaiting their response.

—Simon Ateba