AON Counsel reminds NCAA of Court Order, asks regulator to desist from AOC issuance to Nigeria Air

Following moves to grant Air Operator Certificate (AOC) to Nigeria Air despite the order of interlocutory injunction restraining the issuance to the airlines, Counsel to the Airline Operators of Nigeria ( AON) has written to the Director-General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Capt Musa Nuhu.

In a letter titled Notification of Court Order siting Suit No. FHC/L/CS/2159/2022 between the Registered Trustees of the Airline Operators of Nigeria & ORS vs Nigeria Air Limited & ORSThe Counsel, Burreini Jimoh (SAN), in the letter notified the NCAA to desist from dealing with the Minister/the Federal Ministry of Aviation and/or their agents, privies or representatives, pertaining the Air Operator Certificate (AOC), to avoid consequences of disobedience of Court Orders.

He wrote attaching court documents, “We are Solicitors to the Plaintiffs in the above quoted suit. 19th April, 2023. 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.”

He continued, “You are therefore notified to desist from dealing with the Minister/the Federal Ministry Of Aviation and/or their agents, privies or representatives, pertaining the Air Operator Certificate (AOC), subject matter of the suit, to avoid consequences of disobedience of Court Orders.

“As a law abiding Regulatory Agency, you are under the watchful eyes of the world and it is in your interest to desist from any further action on the AOC process that will ridicule the integrity of the Agency before the local Global Aviation Community.”

All this is coming amidst the Minister Hadi Sirika’s insistence on the airline’s takeoff before May 29, 2023 despite all the surrounding controversies riddling the airline.