Olu Falae's daughter-in-law granted compensation to the tune of $681,000 for the death of her husband

CHIEF Olu Falae's daughter-in-law Ese has been granted the sum of N245.5m ($681,000) by a Lagos federal high court as compensation for the losses she suffered due to the death of her husband Deji in the 2013 Associated Airline air crash.

Deji Falae was one of those who lost his life in the ill-fated Associated Airline crash in Lagos on October 3, 2013. In response, his widow Ese Lynn Falae and her three children dragged the airline to court demanding compensation, calculating that the N245.5m would have been the amount their bread winner would have made in 15 years.

In her judgment that lasted for about two hours and 19 minutes the presiding judge of the court, Justice Hadizat Shagari said the first defendant, Associated Airline and the second defendant, Nigeria Civil Aviation Agency cannot exonerate themselves from the circumstances surrounding the crash. She added that the plaintiffs succeed in their claims against the defendants and judgement is hereby entered in their favour as per their claims.

A 37 paragraph statement of claim was filed before the court on behalf of Mrs Falae and her three children. They include Ayomide, a 15 year old SSS 2 student at Day Waterman College Abeokuta; Wuraola, 13, the only daughter, a JSS3 student in the same college and Oreoluwa , a 7-year old primary three pupil at Corona School, Lagos.

The affidavit filed by Olajide Oyewole stated that Deji Falae was born on October 9, 1970 and was aged 42 at the time of his death. He was a legal practitioner called to the Nigerian Bar and in 2013, at the time of his death, he was serving as commissioner for culture and tourism in Ondo State, Nigeria.

Until his death, he also operated a law firm under the name and style of Ayodeji Falae and company. He also carried on the business of building and construction under the name West -One Resources Limited.