The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) commended the judiciary on Tuesday for its decision to nullify the controversial sale of Nigeria Air to Ethiopian Airlines.
The statement, signed by AON President Dr. Abdulmunaf Sarina, praised the Federal High Court’s judgement, delivered by Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa, which declared the sale null and void.
In his statement, Sarina lauded the court’s decisive and patriotic rulings, describing the entire bidding, approval, and unveiling processes for the proposed national carrier as a deceptive scheme aimed at misleading Nigerians.
“The court’s bold and patriotic declarations leave no one in doubt that the entire process was a sham intended to undermine Nigerian indigenous airlines and transfer control of Nigeria’s vast aviation market, encompassing over 85 bilateral air service agreements worldwide, to Ethiopian Airlines,” Sarina stated. He further expressed gratitude to the court for standing firm despite immense pressure from high-ranking sources, affirming that AON and other Nigerian airlines went to court to safeguard national interests.
Sarina also praised President Bola Tinubu’s administration, particularly Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo SAN, for halting the Nigeria Air process.
Justice Lewis-Allagoa’s ruling indicated that the sale of Nigeria Air’s shares to Ethiopian Airlines violated multiple regulations, including the Companies and Allied Matters Act 2020, Securities and Exchange Commission Nigeria Consolidated Rules & Regulations 2013 (amended in 2022), Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission Act, ICAO Convention, Civil Aviation Act, Public Procurement Act, Concession Regulatory Commission (Est.) Act 2005, and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act. The judge noted that the sale contravened procurement processes for public-private partnerships under the National Policy on Public-Private Partnerships.
The court invalidated the entire administrative action and decision related to the sale, declaring Ethiopian Airlines incompetent to bid for shares in Nigeria Air or commence business. It also set aside the entire bidding and selection process and revoked the Air Transport License issued to Nigeria Air Ltd. by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority.
Additionally, a perpetual injunction was issued, restraining the defendants and their affiliates from proceeding with any transfer of Nigeria Air’s operations to Ethiopian Airlines.
