The Airline Operators of Nigeria, AON, has forwarded a letter to outgoing President Muhammadu Buhari to stop Aviation Minister Hadi Sirika, from inaugurating Nigeria Air operations on May 26th.
The letter which was signed by the Head of AON’s Legal team, Abubakar Ahmad, said the attempt by the minister will violate the orders of the Federal High Court in Lagos, which had restrained Sirika from taking any steps about the Nigeria Air project.
The Airliners noted that the suit, questions the shady deals, deliberate infraction of the Nigerian laws, and self-enrichment or corruption, mainly against the Federal Ministry of Aviation, over the Nigerian Air Project.
The Aircraft owners told the president that his administration will hand over on Monday, May 29, 2023, but the Minister of Aviation is planning to circumvent the Court Orders on Friday 26th May, being the last working day, and possibly to cover up the various infractions of the Nigerian laws, amongst others, by hurriedly bringing two aircraft as a disguise that Nigeria Air has begun operations.
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The AON alerted Buhari that if Sirika is allowed to proceed with his action, it will create needless controversies after his administration would have expired, and it will still pursue contempt action against the minister personally, whether or not he has left office, to promote the rule of law, protection of the integrity of the court, and in line with international best practices.
On Wednesday, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace, Hadi Sirika, told the media that Nigeria Aeroplanes will arrive in Nigeria on Friday and will be unveiled in Nigeria’s colours, in line with the implementation of the aviation roadmap, which has been achieved under his leadership.
(Editor: Ifeanyi Mark)