Aviation Authority Seeks Judiciary’s Support On Contract Laws

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

He emphasised the need for practitioners to be aware of the Cape Town Convention (CTC).

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

Najomo during the grand finale of the international CTC moot court, held at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday evening under the auspices of the CTC Academic Project, said the CTC “has actually put Nigeria in a better perspective to aircraft lessors and general aviation business in Nigeria’.

The DG of NCAA, who was represented by the Director, Operations, Licensing and Training, NCAA, Captain Donald Tonye Spiff, said the purpose of the programme is to familiarise students, academics and judges with the CTC in the context of complex hypothetical fact patterns, and provide students with educational exercises involving these instruments (CTC) in a simulated judicial setting.

He noted that, previously, most airline manufacturing or leasing companies had not wanted to conduct business in Nigeria, but with the CTC, assurances have now been given.

Najomo added: “Through the efforts of the Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Festus Keyamo SAN, we are now in the good books of these organisations.

“And, this is an enlightenment programme to tell the world that we have arrived and we are ready to do business,” he said.

The DG, NCAA hailed the performance of the students, who participated in the programme and commended them for their display of brilliance and commitment, noting that it shows the country’s capacity in every sector.

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 vital 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 stated that the CTC was economically essential to the country. He noted that the Federal High Court had recently issued a practice direction on how to address CTC-related cases.

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

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

Osauyi Temiloluwa Agbonwaneten (the lead counsel in the University of Benin’s team) came first in the area of advocacy, Adedayo Michael (the lead counsel in the University of Lagos’ team) came second.

Falodun Daniel (of the University of Lagos) came third, while Bawi Toluwaleyi Testimony (of the University of Benin) came fourth.

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

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