Singer, Orezi, has asked ride hailing service, Bolt (formerly Taxify) to pay him N100m as compensation following a ghastly accident he had while using the service.
Orezi, in a pre-litigation letter signed by his lawyers, Abimbola Fakeye and Ifeoma Odum; said the accident occurred on December 6, 2019.
The singer, whose full name was stated as Orezi Allen, said he was picked up by a Bolt driver identified as Olamilekan Aina in a Toyota Corolla with number plate, EPE 450EV.
The ‘Ogede’ crooner alleged that the driver drove recklessly and was involved in a head on collision with another vehicle.
The letter read in part, “Our client informed us that on December 6, 2019, at about 5.41pm, he in the company of his younger brother booked a trip to the Murtala Muhammed Airport via his account on Bolt app.
“Our client informed us that one Mr. Olamilekan Aina with phone number, 09071902297, in a Toyota Corolla with number plate EPE 450EV, accepted the ride and picked him up at his location.
“We were further informed that it was raining that morning and in the course of the trip, the driver refused to take note of the weather conditions and how that would affect the roads and other road users and despite several pleas from our client to be careful, the river got involved in a ghastly head on collision with a Toyota Camry SE.
“Our client, who was seated at the back, was severely injured with his jaw broken and bleeding profusely. He sprained his neck and had to be put in a cast. He missed his show and lost income therein. He has had to be on bed rest for a significant amount of time to heal and recover.”
Orezi said Bolt breached its duty of care when it allowed a clearly incompetent driver to operate its app.
He said the only reason he decided to enter the vehicle was because Bolt had vouched for his competence.
The musician said due to the loss of income and medical bills he had incurred, he would be seeking damages.
The letter further stated, “Our client, therefore, demands the sum of N100m as damages for death scare, medical bills, down time and lost income occasioned by the reckless and negligent acts of the Bolt driver.
“You have seven working days from the receipt of this letter to pay the stated sum of N100m to our client, failing which we will institute the necessary court action to recover the sum.”
The singer subsequently attached photographs of his injuries. Punch
