A Federal High Court in Lagos State has nullified the sale of Nigeria Air to Ethiopian Airlines.
Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa who delivered the judgment on Monday declared the transaction “null and void”. The judge also halted the Federal Government’s plans to establish the national carrier, Nigeria Air.
All reliefs sought by the plaintiffs, except for the request for N2 billion in damages were also granted.
The plaintiffs, comprising the Registered Trustees of the Airline Operators of Nigeria and five other aviation industry stakeholders, had challenged the sale of Nigeria Air to Ethiopian Airlines. They sought an order to nullify the entire bidding and selection process for the Nigeria Air project, as well as the approval and selection of Ethiopian Airlines by the defendants.
The defendants in the case include Nigeria Air Limited, Ethiopian Airlines, former Minister of Aviation Senator Hadi Sirika, the Federal Ministry of Aviation, and former Attorney-General of the Federation Abubakar Malami.
