Court Stops Sale Of Nigeria Air To Ethiopian Airlines

Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa of the Federal High Court in Lagos has ruled against the sale of Nigeria Air Ltd to Ethiopian Airlines.

In his ruling on Monday, the judge prohibited the sale and directed that the Federal Government’s plan to establish a national carrier, Nigeria Air, should not proceed.

This decision was made while granting the requests of the plaintiffs, which include the Registered Trustees of the Airline Operators of Nigeria and five other entities within the aviation sector.

Justice Lewis-Allagoa affirmed that all requests were granted, with the exception of the claim for ₦2 billion in damages due to the plaintiff’s wrongful exclusion and the improper bidding and selection processes associated with the Nigeria Air initiative.

The plaintiffs in the case include the Registered Trustees of the Airline Operators, Azman Air Services Limited, Air Peace Limited, Max Air Limited, United Nigeria Airlines Company Limited, and Topbrass Aviation Limited.

The six plaintiffs initiated legal action against the first to fourth defendants, namely Nigeria Air Limited, Ethiopian Airlines, Senator Hadi Sirika (former Minister of Aviation, Federal Ministry of Aviation), and the Attorney-General of the Federation.

The plaintiffs sought the court’s intervention to nullify the entire bidding/selection process for the “Nigeria Air” project, along with the endorsement, award, or selection of Ethiopian Airlines by the Former Minister, Hadi Sirika, and the Former Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami.