Nigeria Air Must Not Fly, Lawyer Writes Buhari

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Nureni Jimoh, has written a protest letter to President Muhammadu Buhari, saying the proposed Nigeria Air must not be allowed to begin operation on Friday.

The protest letter signed by Abubarkar Nuhu Ahmad, and a copy made available to LEADERSHIP, the lawyer who is a solicitor to the Airline Operators of Nigeria ( AON), accused the Minister of Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika, of planning to violate a subsisting court order by allowing Nigeria Air begin operation on Friday, May 26, 2023.

The letter titled, ‘Nigeria Air Project, Last Minute Planned Disobedience to Court Order And Deliberate Plan to Rubbish the Achievement of this Administration’, the law firm, said Sirika chose the last working day of the administration to bring in two aircraft in contravention of a court order.

He, however, urged President Buhari to stop the Minister’s negative action.

The letter which copied the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Justice, Federal Ministry of Aviation, says, “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 same has gone viral on social media. The Minister is planning to hurriedly bring in two aircraft and pretend that Nigeria Air 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.”

The law firm further disclosed in their letter that a contempt charges will be brought against the minister should he go ahead to start Nigeria Air operation.

”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 integrity of the court and in line with international best practices.”