Court Halts Sale of Nigeria Air to Ethiopian Airlines
The Federal High Court in Lagos has invalidated the sale of Nigeria Air Ltd to Ethiopian Airlines.
On Monday, Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa ruled that the proposed establishment of the national carrier, Nigeria Air, by the Federal Government should not proceed. This decision came as the court granted most of the reliefs sought by the plaintiffs, including the Registered Trustees of the Airline Operators of Nigeria and five other aviation industry players.
Justice Lewis-Allagoa’s ruling included all the reliefs requested by the plaintiffs, except for a claim of ₦2 billion in damages for alleged injuries suffered due to wrongful exclusion and improper bidding and selection processes related to the Nigeria Air project.
The plaintiffs in the case include the Registered Trustees of the Airline Operators of Nigeria, Azman Air Services Limited, Air Peace Limited, Max Air Limited, United Nigeria Airlines Company Limited, and Topbrass Aviation Limited.
They had filed the suit against Nigeria Air Limited, Ethiopian Airlines, former Minister of Aviation Senator Hadi Sirika, and the Attorney-General of the Federation. The plaintiffs sought to overturn the bidding and selection processes for the Nigeria Air project and the approval of Ethiopian Airlines by the former Minister and Attorney General.
