TGNews to begin legal suit against FedEx, Red Star express over contact breach
The Management of The General News (TGNews) an Adamawa based online news portal is demanding N32m compensation in addition to public apology from FedEx and its Nigerian business partner Red Star Express over breach of contractual agreement.
The online news portal has about a fortnight ago organized the maiden edition of its merit and productivity award in Yola. The company has contracted FedEx and Red Star Express to ship the award trophies from China to Yola before January 6, 2024 but the companies breached the agreement causing TGNews monumental embarrassment and severe damage of corporate image.
TGNews through its legal counsel, P.M Shagnah has in a memo seen by this medium to the courier service providers demanded the payment of the said amount as well as public apology in two national newspapers.
In a statement made available to this newspaper TGNews described the services of the two organizations as poor, abysmal and below standard.
“Their poor services was rated below average and lack both international and local standard by the management of the general news (Tgnews), a renowned media organization with its corporate Headquarters in Yola, Adamawa State,”
Tgnews whose offices are in Abuja, Jos, Kaduna and the whole of North East conducted merit and productivity award where respected Nigerian including past and present leaders, technocrats, traditional and religious leaders where honoured.
The Governor of Adamawa State, Rt Hon Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, the immediate past Governor of Adamawa State, Sen Muhammadu Umaru Jibrilla Bindow, the former SGF, Barr Dr Boss Mustapha, CFR NPoM, Rear Admiral Barr Jamila Sadiq Malafa, mni (retired) graced the occasion.
Others in attendance are First class Chiefs and Emirs, who are; Hama Bachama, HRH Ismaila Shagaya OON Kpawo Nomwe-Gilongo Diya, Kwandi Nunguriya HRH Sir Dishon Dansanda II, the Emir of Mubi HRH Isa Ahmadu, Gangwari Ganye Adamu Sanda and Dan Lawan Mubi Emirate and the District Head of Belel Alhaji Abubakar Murtala.
The Vice Chancellor of Federal University Kashere who was the guest speaker, Professor Umar Pate, Dr Abdullahi Dauda Belel, the Archbishop of Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria (LCCN), Dr Filibus Panti, Sheikh Khalid Nurudeen (Digital Imam), our unsung heroes, Ardo Usman and Celina Peter with hundreds of invited guests filled to the brim the Lelewal Hotel Hall in Yola only for the courier service company refused to honor the contractual agreement of the trophies that was agreed to be in Yola 5th January 2024 at 5:30pm.
FedEx and Red Star express plc were to honor an agreement reached on 20/12/2023 in which a consignment containing Award trophies were Lodged, registered and paid for delivery from China to Yola in Nigeria by YIWU, ZJCN and same consignment was acknowledged on 21/12/2023 by FedEx express, Red Star Express’ international business partner with TRK 788373192244 as the tracking number.
After hundred percent assurance of definite delivery in clear terms on 05/01/2024 before 6:00pm at Yola to enable Tgnews to present trophies to its first edition awardees on 06/01/2024 by 10:00am.
Tgnews in a lamentable voice by its legal counsel, P.M. Shagnah, Esq signed a letter demanding for immediate payment of damages, compensation and apology for breach of contract and undue delay in delivery.
” in a clear breach of the terms of contract entered into with FedEx and our clients which your company (Red Star express plc) by extension is found to be vicariously liable to our clients haven contributed to a great extent in delaying the delivery of the consignment to Yola within the agreed stipulated date and time.
“It’s no longer in doubt neither can it be contested that the late delivery of the award trophies on 09/01/2024 at 10:50am Three days after the holding of the first edition of the TGnews has caused our clients a huge setback, frustration, embarrassment and has seriously painted their image in bad light before the teeming members of the public in Adamawa State and Nigeria as a whole.
“Flowing from the foregoing our clients have further instructed us to demand for an urgent written apology to be published in the National newspapers (Daily Trust and Punch) , to immediate pay the sun of Twenty million Naira (N20,000,000,00) only as special damages and the sum of Ten million Naira (N10,000,000,00) only as general damages and the sum of Two Millon Naira (N2,000,000,00) only as compensation.
“In an event your company and its international partner FedEx neglected, declined or refused to comply with our demands aforesaid our clients have further instructed us to institute a legal action against Your company before a competent Court to enforce their claims within fourteen days after the service of this letter on your company.
“Further take note that the service of this demand letter on Your company shall be deemed to be proper service on FedEx your international business partner. “A stitch in time, saves nine”. The letter read
Tgnews Legal counsel attached relevant documents which are some of the pictures of late presentation of trophies to individuals in their offices and residence and marked as annexures A1 and A2.