By Ime Akpan
Lagos
Associated Air has paid a total of N80 million to families of 16 persons who lost their lives in one of its aircraft that crashed in Lagos on October 3, 2013.
At a brief ceremony held at the company’s headquarters in Lagos yesterday, the management of the defunct airline handed over a cheque of $30, 000 (N5 million) to each family of the deceased.
The payment which was supervised by the chief operating officer of the airline, Mr. Taiwo Raji, was made behind closed doors as newsmen were not allowed to cover the event.
However, one of the officials told Blueprint confidentially that the payment of initial compensation of $30, 000 was delayed because there were some issues to be sorted out with some families of victims of the accident.
He said the issues bordered on wrangling among members of the deceased families but he was uncertain about the time the balance of $70, 000 would be paid.
Later in an interview, the deputy manager, corporate affairs of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) said only 13 families were cleared to collect their claims adding that nine turned up. However, he said four dependants of the deceased had issues that were yet to be settled.
The aircraft, an Embraer, which was conveying the remains of former governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Agagu to Akure, the state capital, crashed a few minutes after take-off from the domestic wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos. Thirteen passengers died at the scene of the accident while three died later in the hospital.