International courier service, FedEx, and its Nigerian business partners, Red Star Express Plc, are set to pay compensation to General News (Tgnews) following alleged poor services. Tgnews, with offices in Abuja, Jos, Kaduna, and other parts of the North East region, through its legal counsel, P.M. Shagnah & Co, has formally communicated with FedEx and Red Star Express Plc, citing breach of contract.
The issue arose when Tgnews organized a public lecture and Award Ceremony on January 6, 2024, in Yola, honoring prominent Nigerians. Despite an agreement made on December 20, 2023, and a consignment containing award trophies lodged, registered, and paid for delivery from China to Yola by FedEx and Red Star Express, the delivery was not made as promised.
The courier service companies were expected to deliver the trophies on January 5, 2024, before 6:00 pm. However, the consignment arrived on January 9, 2024, at 10:50 am, causing significant setbacks, frustration, and embarrassment for Tgnews. In response, Tgnews’ legal counsel issued a letter demanding immediate payment of damages, compensation, and an apology for the breach of contract and undue delay in delivery.
The letter emphasized that the delayed delivery negatively impacted Tgnews’ image and reputation before the public in Adamawa State and Nigeria. Tgnews instructed its legal representatives to demand an urgent written apology to be published in national newspapers (Daily Trust and Punch) and immediate payments, including N20 million as special damages, N10 million as general damages, and N2 million as compensation.
The letter warned that failure to comply with the demands within fourteen days would result in legal action against the courier service companies. The service of the demand letter on Red Star Express Plc would also be deemed as proper service on FedEx, its international business partner.
