…files N250m suit against airline
The last may not have been heard about the worsening inhumane treatment being meted to Nigerians in other parts of the world. From incessant xenophobic attacks in South Africa to being sold into slavery in Libya, after surviving the dangerous travels through the deadly Sahara desert, Nigerians have lately been in the eye of the storm in foreign lands.
The latest in this series of ill-treatment meted to Nigerians in foreign lands is the case of a business woman, Tolulope Ogundokun, who is also the founder of Addict Pawprint. Ogundokun was recently allegedly assaulted by a Turkish national, when she wanted to board a flight from the Ataturk International Airport in Turkey to London.
Tartan went wild. He gripped me with his claws; hit me continuously on my arm! But I held my phone tight and made more recordings of his assault. It was humiliating. He hit me so much and pushed me aggressively
Ogundokun was allegedly assaulted by the Customer Representative Manager of the airline, Selim Tartan, for complaining about the services offered by the aviation company.
The 33-year-old Biochemistry graduate of the University of Lagos had approached one of the airline customer representatives for a pass on board the flight, having tendered her ticket and denied access on the excuse that the aircraft was overbooked.
Our correspondent learnt that the airline representative, however, directed Ogundokun to the boarding gate for her case to be considered.
But after several futile efforts to get a pass, she demanded to see the airline’s manager for further explanations.
The manager, according to her, allegedly insulted her for having the audacity to complain about her inability to get a seat on the flight.
Ogundokun further noted that her ‘crime’ for being denied access was because she was having a standby (SBY) boarding ticket, instead of a seat number.
She said, “I got to the check-in Line C counter to enquire why standby. The Airlines representative told me the flight was overbooked, but I should go to the boarding gate and might be considered if the area was not fully occupied.
“I met the manager, Tartan, who told me rudely to go and check their website, that a confirmed ticket did not guarantee a seat on the aircraft. He said to me, ‘I don’t have time for you. You can stand there and keep asking me questions.’”
Ogundokun recalled that Tartan allegedly threatened to take her luggage out of the aircraft, warning that she would not travel to London if she insisted on joining the flight.
“He fumed and threatened to take my bags out of the aircraft, saying that I would not travel to London, if I persisted in knowing why I won’t be on that flight. He said so many nasty words to me,” she said.
It was learnt that while the airline manager was verbally abusing her, Ogundokun was recording the confrontation with her mobile device.
This, according to her, infuriated Tartan and prompted him to suddenly abuse her physically.
“Tartan went wild. He gripped me with his claws; hit me continuously on my arm! But I held my phone tight and made more recordings of his assault. It was humiliating. He hit me so much and pushed me aggressively,” she alleged.
According to the victim, when she reported the case to the police, the officers at first attempted to take some actions, but later distanced themselves, after Tartan had spoken to them in Turkish.
She added, “They (police) asked me to delete the video, but after they watched it, they advised me to go to the Airline management. Tartan’s female colleague tried to stop him but he ignored her.
“I crawled to the boarding gate, where I was told that 15 other persons, too, had SBY. But as soon as I showed them the video of the assault, coupled with the way I was panting, I was eventually put on the flight. I was so happy!”
But Ogundokun, who narrowly escaped being left behind in Turkey, as she managed to get on the flight, was dazed with more frustration after her arrival at the Heathrow Airport in London as her luggage was not on the flight! The Turkish airline’s customer representative manager had made good his threat!
Fighting back tears, she recalled, “I thought I was dreaming. I wept profusely! I couldn’t believe that was happening to me. I went round carousel 8, where every passenger picked his baggage. I had to go to the officers. They checked and confirmed. They said ‘Madam, your luggage was not checked in with this flight’.
“I screamed silently. All my documents; all my items were gone! That was when it dawned on me that he (Tartan) really carried out his threat that I would not fly.
“I couldn’t think rationally anymore. I was empty and had nothing on me. I cried while I walked the streets of London. My own tears blinded me so much so that I became myopic.”
Ogundokun said although she was able to lodge in a hotel, she had on the same clothes and under wears.
She said she was only able to have a change of clothing when she received her bags after four days.
“I was supposed to travel to Scotland but I could not, as I had nothing on me: no clothes to change, no money again; it was hell for me,” she said.
Traumatised, the 33-year-old woman added that when she got back to Nigeria, she had to visit a medical facility on Lagos Island, where she was treated for depression, psychological trauma and other emotional implications provoked by the horrible experience.
“At the moment, I am emotionally fluctuating. I need to be well stabilised,” she said.
Ogundokun, however, said she had filed a suit in respect of the case and would be glad to see the airline, especially Selim Tartan, face the full wrath of
the law.
“The case is in court. My lawyers have filed a suit of N250million damages to be paid to me,” Ogundokun said.
She added, “Some of the charges levelled against the Turkish Airlines and its official include: assault, delayed boarding and delayed baggage.
“The case is before Justice Idris of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi.”
According to her, the Turkish Airlines did not deny the abuse by its official and the deliberate seizure of her luggage for four days, leaving her in a distraught state.
Efforts to get the reaction of the airline’s management in Nigeria to Ogundokun’s allegations proved abortive.
When our correspondent called the airline’s customer care line, he was asked to contact their head office in Turkey, where the alleged incident took place.
