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Arik Air has been ordered to ground its operations by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo. This directive follows a recent court ruling mandating the sale of Arik Air’s assets, including several aircraft, to settle debts owed to Arthur Eze and other creditors.
An Abuja court recently ordered the sale of Arik Air’s aircraft, hangar, and other movable assets. The targeted aircraft include B737-700/5N-MJF, B737-800/5N-MJQ, and Dash 8-Q400/5N-BKK.
The Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), managing Arik Air under receivership, expressed dismay at the sudden order. In a statement, AMCON’s CEO, Captain Roy Ilegbodu, highlighted the significant repercussions for passengers, employees, and the broader Nigerian economy. The decision disrupts critical domestic routes and raises travel costs, adversely affecting everyday Nigerians who rely on the airline.
AMCON underscored that the grounding order disregards ongoing judicial processes. Despite a Federal High Court directive to maintain the status quo regarding Arik’s assets, the Minister’s order undermines the rule of law and sets a dangerous precedent, prioritizing unsecured private interests over public good and creditor rights.
AMCON said, “The management of Arik Air (In Receivership) is dismayed by the sudden order issued by the Honourable Minister of Aviation to ground our Aircraft. This decision, made without warning or consultation, has serious repercussions for our valued passengers, dedicated employees, and the broader Nigerian economy.
“Our priority has always been to connect people and facilitate commerce, especially on critical domestic routes. The grounding of our fleet disrupts these vital services, leaving passengers stranded and inflating already high travel costs. This decision hurts everyday Nigerians who rely on our flights for business, family, and essential activities.
The decision also disregards ongoing judicial processes,” the airline said.
Nigerian Airspace Management Agency provided additional context, noting that Arik Air’s aircraft were attached by court order to settle a $2.5 million debt owed to Atlas Petroleum International Ltd. The agency emphasized compliance with the Supreme Court order to preserve the aircraft, preventing their removal from jurisdiction or tampering.
The statement by NAMA read,“We understand too that Arik has obtained an exparte order stopping FURTHER EXECUTION of the order, though we have not been formally served. In the circumstances, since the first execution took place by attaching the aircrafts, further execution by way of sale can be halted whilst the parties go back to court to resolve the issues.
“However, in order to preserve the subject matter of the present dispute which are the aircrafts in question (the res), which have already been attached, we have decided to comply with the effect of the Supreme Court order, by grounding the aircrafts (subject of dispute) so that they are not taken out of the jurisdiction of the court or tampered with in a way as to frustrate the courts.
“Furthermore, the Minister, being a member of the Inner Bar himself understands the implication of the Supreme Court Order dismissing the motion for leave to appeal and will not risk his license as a legal practitioner or his privilege as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria by engaging in acts that will frustrate an order of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
“The parties to the dispute are encouraged to resolve their issues as quickly as possible so that the Arik aircrafts in question can resume flight operations.”
Ozioma Samuel-Ugwuezi
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