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The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has grounded aircraft belonging to Arik Air over a $2.5 million debt owed Atlas Petroleum International Ltd.
TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports NAMA grounded the aircraft belonging to Arik Air following an order of the Supreme Court.
Both companies have been in a legal dispute, involving the seizure of aircraft as collateral for the $2.5 million debt.
According to NAMA, on July 19, 2024, the enforcement department of the FCT High Court enforced the order.
Arik Air had appealed the initial court decision multiple times but ultimately lost after a prolonged legal battle.
“On June 26, 2024, Honourable Justice O. A. Adeniyi, sitting in Court 8, Maitama, Abuja, made an order after hearing Motion No: M/9785/2024 filed on behalf of Atlas Petroleum.
“The order attached all moveable properties belonging to the Judgment Debtor, including the aircraft with Registration No: B737-700/ 5N-MJF, B737-800/ 5N-MJQ, DASH8-Q400 and 5N-BKX in satisfaction of the judgment debt.
“Copies of the Order and Certificate of Judgment were also served on us and the Minister,” a statement by NAMA reads.
It was, however, gathered that Arik Air has obtained an ex parte order stopping further execution of the order, but, according to NAMA, “it has not been formally served”.
To preserve the aircraft involved in the dispute, NAMA decided to comply with the Supreme Court order. NAMA grounded the aircraft to prevent removing them from the court’s jurisdiction or tampering with them.
“The Minister, a member of the Inner Bar, understands the implications of the Supreme Court order dismissing the motion.
“He will not risk his license as a legal practitioner or his privilege as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria. The Minister will not engage in acts that will frustrate an order of the Supreme Court of Nigeria,” NAMA stated.