A major dispute has erupted between Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Jibrin Samuel Okutepa, SAN, and Qatar Airways after the eminent lawyer accused the airline of subjecting him to “degrading and inhumane” treatment during a disrupted international trip, leading to demands for over half a million dollars in compensation and a 14-day ultimatum for redress.
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The formal complaint, filed on Friday by the law firm A.A. Malik & Co. on behalf of Chief Jibrin Samuel Okutepa, SAN, outlines a series of failures that allegedly left the senior advocate stranded, humiliated, and thousands of dollars out of pocket.
Okutepa, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and member of the Body of Benchers the apex of the nation’s legal profession was travelling to the International Bar Association (IBA) Conference in Toronto, Canada, in late October. A traditional Chief in two kingdoms in Kogi and Enugu States, he described the ordeal as the most traumatic of his international travels, causing “emotional, psychological, mental, and financial” distress.
According to the six-page letter addressed to Qatar Airways’ Customer Relations Department in Abuja, the nightmare began after a business-class round-trip ticket (reference: QF32CK0D) purchased on June 26, 2025, for USD 4,832. The ticket package included a Doha transit visa and hotel accommodation during an eight-hour layover benefits promoted by the airline for the Abuja–Doha–Toronto–Abuja route.
Okutepa arrived at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on October 29, 2025, for his journey and completed check-in early. Airline staff assured him that his transit visa would be issued upon arrival in Doha, even after taking custody of his passport.
But upon landing at Hamad International Airport, the assurances collapsed. Staff informed him that no transit visa had been processed, denying him entry and access to the hotel. Forced to endure an “excruciating and agonizing” eight-hour layover inside the terminal, he eventually boarded his flight to Toronto on the morning of October 30. The letter accuses Qatar Airways of charging for services it failed to provide a “material breach of contract.”
The troubles escalated on the return leg. After concluding his five-day participation in the IBA Conference, Okutepa arrived at Toronto Pearson International Airport on November 10 for his 8:10 p.m. flight to Doha. To his “chagrin,” check-in staff denied him boarding, again citing the transit visa Qatar Airways had failed to procure.
His attempts to explain were ignored. He was removed from the queue to allow other passengers to board and redirected to the airline’s office. There, he spent more than four hours including 75 minutes on hold with Qatar Airways headquarters pleading for a solution. The options given: pay USD 5,000 for a reroute via Doha or remain stranded.
Unable to meet what he called a “draconian” demand, and with the Doha-bound flight already departed, Okutepa was turned away as staff locked the office. He then paid USD 224.95 for a night at Hilton Toronto Airport Hotel and USD 366.13 the following day for a last-minute business-class ticket on Ethiopian Airlines to return to Nigeria.
The complaint characterises Qatar Airways’ conduct as not merely negligent but “unconscionable” and exploitative. The allegations include:
- Breach of Contract: Payment for a package that included a visa and hotel, neither of which was delivered.
- Unfair Commercial Practices: Demanding USD 5,000 to fix an error caused by the airline and reselling his seat.
- Negligence in Support: Leaving a high-value customer stranded overnight without assistance.
“This was not mere oversight; it was a shambolic administrative handling that degraded our client’s dignity,” the letter states, noting Okutepa’s impeccable travel history.
The law firm is demanding more than USD 500,000 in compensation, including:
| Demand | Amount (USD) | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Formal Apology | N/A | Acceptance of responsibility. |
| Full Refund | 2,416 | Unused portion of the original ticket. |
| Reimbursement | 500 (Doha meals) 224.95 (Toronto hotel) 500 (Toronto meals) 366.13 (Ethiopian ticket) | Direct expenses resulting from the ordeal. |
| Damages | 500,000 | General, exemplary, and aggravated damages for distress, humiliation, and hardship. |
Qatar Airways has not yet issued a public response to the complaint, dated November 14, 2025.
The letter warns that legal proceedings will commence in Nigerian courts if the airline fails to comply by November 28.
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