A federal high court sitting in Lagos has nullified the sale of a 49 per cent equity stake in Nigeria Air to Ethiopian Airlines.
Judge Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa, in the ruling on Monday, August 5, declared the stake sold to Ethiopian Airlines by former president Muhammadu Buhari’s administration null and void after determining the issues in the suit.
Also, the judge said the federal government’s plans to establish a national carrier, Nigeria Air, should be halted.
Newspot reports that registered trustees of the Airline Operators of Nigeria, AON, and five other aviation industry stakeholders brought the case against the Federal Government.
The Minister of Aviation under President Buhari, Hadi Sirika, in 2023 unveiled Nigeria Air three days before the end of the former president’s administration.
The five stakeholders are Air Peace Limited, Azman Air Services Limited, Max Air Limited, Topbrass Aviation Limited and United Nigeria Airlines Company Limited.
The defendants are Nigeria Air Limited, Ethiopian Airlines, former Minister of Aviation Hadi Sirika and former Attorney General of the Federation Abubakar Malami.
The plaintiffs sought an order to nullify the bidding and selection process for the Nigeria Air project, as well as the approval and selection of Ethiopian Airlines by the defendants.
