Ahmad Abubakar, a flight cadet based in Gombe State, has waited on Arik Air for a N60,000 refund for two months with no luck.

Every time he called Arik’s refund unit, they told him the same thing: they were working on it. Abubakar now has an emergency for which he needs his money, but lately, the refund unit has stopped answering his calls, he told FIJ.

Abubakar booked an Arik flight from Abuja to Maiduguri on May 5. On the scheduled May 9 date, the flight was cancelled, and a day later, he applied for a refund from the airline.

READ ALSO: Customer Missed Appointment Over Arik Air’s Flight Cancellation — No Ticket Fee Refund 2 Months After

In violation of their refund policy, which states that refunds are processed within 10–40 days after an application is made, Arik Air is still in possession of Ahmad’s N60,000 three months later.

Abubakar has neither received his money nor received an update on the process so far.

READ ALSO: After FIJ’s Story, Arik Air Refunds Lagos Resident’s N121,336 Held for 7 Months

With no response from the airline, he turned to FIJ for help. On Friday, he sent a message:

“Please, when will I be able to get this refund? I have a financial issue. My mum was admitted to the hospital, and I have to settle the bills and some medications.

“For more than two months now, all they’ve said is they’re working on it.”

While FIJ could not guarantee Ahmed a refund, this reporter sent an email of inquiry to Arik Air, copying its refund unit, customer care, e-ticket call centre and Ola Adebanji, its spokesperson.

Only the refund unit responded, and it was an automated message.

Phone calls made to the refund unit were not answered and had not been returned at press time.