The Federal High Court in Lagos today declared null and void the sale of Nigeria Air Ltd to Ethiopian Airlines.
Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa, in his judgment, ordered the Federal Government to halt the proposed establishment of a national carrier, Nigeria Air. He made this decision while granting reliefs sought by the plaintiffs, the Registered Trustees of the Airline Operators of Nigeria, and five others in the aviation industry.
Justice Lewis-Allagoa granted all the reliefs sought except for the relief asking for ₦2bn as damages for the injury suffered by the plaintiffs.
This was due to their wrongful exclusion and the unlawful bidding and selection processes for the Nigeria Air project.
The plaintiffs in the suit 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. They filed the suit against Nigeria Air Limited, Ethiopian Airlines, Senator Hadi Sirika (former Minister of Aviation), the Federal Ministry of Aviation, and the Attorney-General of the Federation. Sale of Nigeria Air.
The plaintiffs asked the court to set aside the entire bidding and selection processes for the Nigeria Air project. They also sought to nullify the approval and selection of Ethiopian Airlines by the Former Minister, Hadi Sirika, and the Former Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami.
