NCAA Seeks Judiciary’s Support In Interpreting Aviation Contract Laws

The director-general, Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Captain Chris Najomo, has urged for more support from the Judiciary in efforts to deepen the understanding of laws governing contractual dealings in the nation’s aviation sector, particularly the Cape Town Convention (CTC).

The CTC comprises the Cape Town Convention on International Interests in Mobile Equipment 2001 and the Protocol to the Convention on Matters Specific Aircraft Equipment.

Najomo spoke at the grand finale of the international CTC moot court, held at the Federal High Court in Abuja under the auspices of the CTC Academic Project.

The DG NCAA, who was represented by the director, Operations, Licensing and Training, NCAA, Captain Donald Tonye Spiff, said the CTC “has actually put Nigeria in a better perspective to aircraft lessors and general aviation business in Nigeria.”

The event was organised by the Federal Ministry of Aviation, and Aerospace Development, and the NCAA, with support from the Aviation Working Group (AWG).

The secretary general of the AWG and co-director of the CTC Academic Project, Jeffrey Wool, said he was thrilled by the first Nigerian international CTC moot court.

Wool said the CTC is a very important international treaty, ratified by Nigeria, adding that the moot court “is a way to introduce students and the legal system to this all important treaty” and further familiarise the court with the provisions of the treaty.

He said the CTC is very important economically to the country.

The event featured the simulation of a real court experience, involving two opposing legal teams made up of Law students drawn from the University of Benin and the University of Lagos.

The moot court was held under the supervision a three-member panel of judges of the Federal High Court, Abuja – Justices Binta Nyako (who presided), Joyce Abdulmalik and James Omotosho.

The Nigerian moot court competition saw 18 universities drawn from all the nation’s six geopolitical zones, participating in the preliminary round.

The University of Benin and University of Lagos, which competed at the final held on November 12, emerged as the two overall best from the preliminary round.