Victims reject Dana’s N200,000 compensation

Some victims of Dana Air plane crash of June 3 in Iju-Ishaga area of Lagos, rejected the N200,000 cheque offered each of them by the airline on Tuesday.

Although not all the victims were present at the Ayobo relief camp, most of those that turned up rejected the cheques on the grounds that the amount was ridiculous.

A victim, Daniel Omowunmi, whose duplex, warehouse and vehicle were destroyed at the crash site, directed his anger at the airline officials, saying “this is a crooked move. It is rubbish.”

Also, a lawyer, Mr. Gbenga Odetola, who said he was representing about 20 of the victims, declined the offer on behalf of his clients.

According to him,  the categorisation made, according to how the victims were affected, by the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, was not enough to take care of the problem.

He said, “We are questioning the parameters for the catergorisation. What of those victims whose properties were vandalised by street urchins and looters? The list of the victims is not exhaustive at all.

“Apart from that, we wrote Dana a letter, they did not reply. Instead, they decided to call my clients to come for cheques.”

However, when the officials wanted to leave the camp, a drama ensued when a victim, Adebayo Bidemi, whose lawyer, Odetola, had earlier rejected the cheque on her behalf, ran after them to get her cheque.

“Please I need my cheque. They did not explain all the details about the money to me before. I got my accommodation through my own sweat. I think I have the right to change my mind,” she said.

Meanwhile, officials of Dana are insisting that the money was not a compensation, but meant to ease the problem of accommodation of victims, whose apartments were destroyed.