Shareholders
and directors of Arik Air Limited have dragged the Asset Management Corporation
of Nigeria and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority before the Lagos Division
of the Federal High Court, accusing the federal authorities of mismanagement.
In suit
number FHC/L/CS//2017, filed on March 27, the shareholders prayed the court to
hold AMCON and NCAA responsible if there is any case of air accident or other
serious damages in the airline’s operation.
“‘A
declaration that the defendants would be personally liable for any Air crash
arising from non-compliance with the NCAA Act and regulations including any
claims for compensation and criminal liability arising therefrom,” court papers
showed.
The case,
which is the latest in a string of lawsuits between Arik and AMCON, came two
months after AMCON took over management Arik Airline, the largest in the
country. The move followed an ex-parte order of the Federal High Court.
The agency
cited poor mismanagement on the part of the company’s owners, saying it assumed
control of the troubled airline in order to reposition it. Amcon said Arik was
indebted to it up to the tune of N300 billion.
But the
airline shareholders and management vowed to challenge the takeover. The
Federal High Court is expected to rule on two pending applications that stemmed
from the takeover in the coming weeks.
In their
latest suit, Arik directors, Joseph Arumemi-Ikhide, Michael Arumemi-Ikhide and
engineer, Sangowawa Olubiyi, said AMCON had violated the country’s air traffic
laws which could result in air accidents.
“Arik
Aircrafts are not receiving adequate and scheduled maintenance as well as
regular supply of proper spare parts,” the plaintiffs said. “Over 10 aircraft
parked at the Arik Air hanger are not on a maintenance and storage program and
thus the safety of passengers currently being ferried on board the aircraft
cannot be guaranteed.”
No date has
been fixed for hearing on the matter.
(Premium
Times)
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