Court Stops Sale of Nigeria Air to Ethiopian Airlines

A Federal High Court presided by Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa in Lagos, Monday stopped the controversial sale of the federal government proposed national carrier, the Nigeria Air Limited to Ethiopian Airlines, declaring the deal a null and void transaction.

Justice Lewis-Allagoa also ruled that any further action on the proposed establishment of the said national carrier—Nigeria Air, by the federal government should be stopped.

The federal high court also ruled that “All the reliefs sought are granted except for the relief asking for N2bn as damages for the injury suffered by the plaintiffs as a result of their wrongful exclusion and the wrongful action, unlawful bidding and selection processes for the Nigeria Air project.”

The Registered Trustees of the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) which include Azman Air Services Limited, Air Peace Limited, Max Air Limited, United Nigeria Airlines Company Limited and Topbrass Aviation Limited, together with five others in the aviation industry had filed the case when a former Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Senator Hadi Sirika supervised the controversial hand over of the national carrier he allegedly established on behalf of the federal government to Ethiopian Airlines.

The six plaintiffs had filed the suit against the first to fourth defendants which includes Nigeria Air Limited, Ethiopian Airlines, Senator Hadi Sirika (former Minister of Aviation, Federal Ministry of Aviation) and the Attorney-General of the Federation.