August 05, (THEWILL) – The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, on Monday, voided the sale of Nigeria Air Limited to Ethiopian Airlines, declaring the deal null and void.
The court also stopped further action on the proposed establishment of a national carrier—Nigeria Air, by the Federal Government.
“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,” Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa held Monday.
The ruling follows a case filed by the Registered Trustees of the Airline Operators of Nigeria, and five others in the aviation industry.
Listed as the 1st to 6th plaintiffs in the suit are 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 had filed the suit against the first to fourth defendants: Nigeria Air Limited, Ethiopian Airlines, Senator Hadi Sirika (former Minister of Aviation, Federal Ministry of Aviation) and the Attorney-General of the Federation.
In the suit, the plaintiffs had asked the court to make an order setting aside the entire bidding/selection process(es) for the “Nigeria Air” project as well as the approval, grant or selection of Ethiopian Airlines by the former Minister, Hadi Sirika and former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami.
