The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) has expressed its deep appreciation for the Nigerian judiciary’s commitment to justice following the landmark judgment delivered on August 5, 2024, concerning the Nigeria Air project.
President of AON, Alhaji Abdulmunaf Yunusa Sarina, praised Justice A. Alagon of the Federal High Court in Lagos for declaring the sale and operations of Nigeria Air to Ethiopian Airlines as a violation of multiple regulatory statutes.
These, he said, include the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) 2020, SEC Nigeria Consolidated Rules & Regulations 2013 (amended in 2022), Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) Act, International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Convention, Civil Aviation Act, Public Procurement Act, Concession Regulatory Commission (Est.) Act, 2005, Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, Procurement Processes for Public-Private Partnerships under the National Policy on Public-Private Partnerships (NPPP), and Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations, 2015.
Justice Alagon’s ruling highlighted that the administrative actions and decisions related to the sale of Nigeria Air shares to Ethiopian Airlines were invalid and void. The judgment further underscored that Ethiopian Airlines was ineligible to bid for shares in Nigeria Air and to commence business operations in this context.
The court ordered the annulment of the entire bidding and selection process for the Nigeria Air project and revoked the approval granted to Ethiopian Airlines by the former Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika. Additionally, the court directed the immediate cancellation of the Air Transport License (ATL) issued by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to Nigeria Air Limited and issued a perpetual injunction preventing any further operations or transfers related to Nigeria Air by the defendants.
“The bold and patriotic declarations and orders by the court today leave no doubt that the entire bidding, approval, and unveiling processes of the purported national carrier were a sham intended to deceive Nigerians. This was also a covert attempt to undermine Nigerian indigenous airlines and hand over our aviation market to Ethiopian Airlines without any real investment into the Nigerian economy”, the AON boss said.
He further expressed gratitude to the judiciary for standing firm despite immense pressure and for exonerating AON and other Nigerian airlines that sought to protect national interests through legal action.
Alhaji Sarina also lauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, particularly the Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo SAN, for suspending the Nigeria Air project initiated by the former Minister of Aviation. He praised Mr. Keyamo for his courage and alignment with the truth for the sake of the country.
“We thank the court for proving to be the true hope of the common man and for protecting Nigeria’s aviation industry from unfair practices,” he said.
