Lagos vows to fast-track compensation for Dana victims

By The Citizen

Lagos State Judiciary has concluded plans to fast- track the legal requirements for payment of full compensation to the families of victims of the June 3, 2012 Dana Air crash in Iju Ishaga, Lagos.

No fewer than 153 passengers and others on the ground were killed in the crash, while full compensation has yet to be paid to all the affected families.

A source confirmed on Monday that the Lagos State Judiciary and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority were working out measures to fast- track the process of issuing letters of administration as well as any application for guardianship.

The source at the Lagos State Judiciary, who craved anonymity, confirmed the development, explaining that the process would be facilitated by the Probate Registry of the state judiciary.

He said, 'The Honourable Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Ayo Philips, has agreed that any victim's family requiring guardianship order needs to apply to the court with an affidavit of urgency and same would be so treated.

'The NCAA is also required to forward a list of the victims' families (applicants) for the administrative spade of work to the Probate Registry, while the agency must also inform representatives of each victim family to be at the Probate Registry to complete the necessary forms as individual files would be used for each victim family.'

The source added that the CJ had approved requirement waiver for processing of Letters of Administration only for the purpose of payment of compensation to victim families, while additional assets or properties of the victims' would be processed in accordance with the regular processing requirements.

The source explained that only one surety, who must be a registered landowner in Lagos State, would be required, as against the normal requirement for two sureties.

It was further learnt that the statutory 10 per cent fee payable on Letters of Administration had also been waived, while administrative fee for processing was put at a flat rate of N6,000 for all the applicants.