Student Demands N102m From DHL Over Missing Credentials

DHL International Nigeria Limited is facing an N100m suit over missing credentials of a student.

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the DHL management to appear before it over allegation of negligence, which led to the loss of original documents entrusted in the company’s capacity.

Mr. Daniel Okon Etuk, an engineering graduate of the University of Uyo, who was in 2013 admitted to study Pharmacy and Medicine at the South Western University, Philippines, is demanding the total sum of N102 million from DHL as cumulative damages for loss of his original credentials.

According to a writ of summons, dated December 10, 2013, filed on behalf of Etuk by A.C Negedu of Leo Ekpenyong Chambers, it noted that the original credentials, sent through DHL courier with waybill number 2817947565, was neither delivered nor returned to him.

This, according to the court papers, led to Etuk’s inability to be duly registered as a student of the university after the admission was offered to him.

Negedu stated in the court process that his client had fulfilled the admission requirements of the university, consequently original copies of his credentials, consisting of his WAEC certificate, birth certificate, police report and other supporting documents were sent through DHL, but could not be traced. He added that his client had expended about N2 million in processing the said admission, including flight ticket, accommodation and procurement of Philippines visa as well as authentication of the documents at the Philippines embassy.

“The plaintiff avers that from the 19th June, 2103 when the documents were delivered to the defendant for onward transmission, till date of the issuance of this writ, the defendant has failed, refused and neglected to either deliver the document to the said address or return it to the plaintiff.”

He added that his client relied upon the expertise and professionalism of DHL as an internationally renowned courier company and disclosed the nature and urgency required in the delivery of the document.

Etuk is however seeking the court to declare that DHL breached their obligation under the contract, as it failed to deliver the parcel at the same time negligent when it misplaced and lost the document.

He is praying the court to grant him compensation of N2 million, being the sum lost in processing entry into the South western University Philippines, the sum of N50 million being general damages for breach of contract, and another N50 million as exemplary damages for the trauma, pains, academic setback and aborted career occasioned by DHL’s act of negligence, and the substantial cost of the litigation.