The Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development has grounded Arik Air due to an outstanding debt of $2.5 million owed to Atlas Petroleum International Limited.
Court documents indicate that Arik Air failed to settle the judgment debt, leading to the attachment of their aircraft by the FCT High Court. The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) disclosed that a notice of public auction was issued, scheduled for July 26, 2024, if the debt remained unpaid.
NAMA reported that Arik Air was served with the court order and that the Supervising Minister of Aviation was informed. To prevent the aircraft from being removed from the jurisdiction or tampered with, the ministry decided to ground the planes involved.
Arik Air had previously appealed the court’s decision, but both the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court dismissed their appeals. The Supreme Court’s ruling rejected the airline’s application for leave to appeal, allowing the enforcement of the court’s order to proceed.
The Minister of Aviation, a legal expert himself, emphasized the necessity of adhering to the Supreme Court’s order to avoid further legal consequences. The involved parties are urged to resolve their issues promptly to enable the resumption of Arik Air’s operations.
In a statement, Captain Roy Ilegbodu of Arik Air criticized the ministry’s decision as unexpected and unconsulted, highlighting its significant impact on passengers, staff, and the broader Nigerian economy.
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