The Airline Operators of Nigeria AON) has raised a storm about plans by the outgoing Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika to flag off operations of Nigeria Air despite restraining court orders on the controversial project.
Sirika said on Wednesday that the aircraft for Nigeria Air would arrive the country on Friday ahead of commencement of operations.
He assured that the aircraft would be unveiled in Nigeria’s colours in fulfilment of all the promises made by the administration in the aviation sector.
He, however, noted that the only incomplete item is the aerotropolis, which is the airport city and is 60 percent complete.
According to him, the ground work has been completed, and are looking to conclude work on the airport city by the next administration.
But in a letter dated 24th May by its solicitors, Nureini Jimoh (SAN) Chambers and addressed to President Muhammadu Buhari, AON described the move as an attempt to “circumvent the court orders on Friday being the last working day of this administration and possibly to cover up the various infractions of Nigerian laws, among others”.
AON said that Sirika chose the last working day of the President Buhari administration to bring in two aircraft in contravention of the court order urging the president to stop the Minister’s negative action.
The AON noted that bringing in two aircraft for Nigeria Air “is a clever way to violate court orders”.
President Buhari was reminded that the suit was “filed to question the shady deals, deliberate infractions of the Nigerian laws and self-enrichment/ corruption mainly by the ministry of aviation over Nigeria Air project”.
In the said suit, the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, which was presided over by Hon. Justice Ambrose Lweis Allagoa, granted three separate court orders of injunctions in the terms contained in the order, “restraining taking any step, in relation to the Nigeria Air project”.
The AON urged the President to stop this action and ensure compliance with the terms of the order and avoid needless controversies after the exit of his administration.
The AON vowed to “pursue contempt action against the minister personally whether or not he has left office”.
The letter, which was copied to the Attorney General of the Federation, the Inspector-General of Police, the Permanent Secretaries of Federal Ministry of Justice, and that of the Federal Ministry of Aviation, read: “We are solicitors to Airline Operators of Nigeria (“Our Client”). Our client filed the above suit to question the shady deal, deliberate infraction of the Nigerian laws, and self-enrichment, mainly against the Federal Ministry of Aviation over the Nigerian Air Project.
“In the suit, the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos presided by Hon. Justice A.L Allagoa, in the above suit, granted Orders of interim and interlocutory injunctions, in the terms contained in the Order, restraining taking of any step in relation to the Nigeria Air project. Copy each of the Orders are enclosed as Annexures 1, 2 & 3.
“As your Excellency is well aware, the administration will hand over on Monday, May 29, 2023, but the Honourable Minister of Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika, is planning to circumvent the Court Orders on Friday 26th May 2023 being the last working day of this administration and possibly to cover up the various infractions of Nigerian laws, amongst others.
“This was disclosed in the interview granted yesterday by the Hon. Minister to Channels Television and the same has gone viral on social media. The Minister is planning to hurriedly bring in two (2) aircraft and pretend that NigeriaAir has commenced operation.
“Aside moral justification for commercial operation after the Minister’s last day in office, it is a clever way to violate the court orders. This action has no regard to whether or not it will stain the record of this administration, whether or not it will cover for corrupt actions raised in the suit and deliberately meant to violate Court Orders for self-serving purposes.
“We, therefore, employ your Excellency to STOP this action of the Minister of Aviation, ensure compliance with the terms of the Order and avoid needless controversies on the action after your Excellency’s administration would have expired.
“Notwithstanding, our client will still pursue contempt action against the Minister personally whether or not he left office, for the promotion of the rule of law, protection of the integrity of the court and in line with international best practices”.
At an aviation stakeholder’s forum in Abuja in March, Sirika had said that Nigeria Air would commence full operations before the end of the administration.
