Chinelo Obogo
Some members of the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) have filed an interlocutory injunction at the Federal High Court, Abuja, calling for the elections held to be declared null and void and restraining the current executives of the body from parading themselves as executives, trustees.
This is just as the plaintiffs are seeking an order of the court directing that a fresh Annual General Meeting and fresh elections be conducted by three members of the AON at the Murtala Muhammed Airport 2 (MMA2) Conference Room within one (1) month from the date of judgment or as the court may direct.
The suit filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja with number FHC/ABJ/1336/2020 by members of the airline body including West Link Airlines LTD, Sky Power Express Airways Nigeria Limited and Tropical Attic Logistics LTD is also requesting an audit report of the AON for the past six (6) years given by the out-gone Chairman of the body.
The plaintiffs’ are seeking to set aside the purported Annual General Meeting of the AON held on 16th September, 2020 declaring it unconstitutional and fraught with manifold irregularities and should be declared null and void.
The motion of notice is also restraining the Incorporated Trustees of Airline Operators of Nigeria; Azman Air services Ltd, Air Peace Ltd, Max Air Ltd, Abdulmunaf Yunusa, Allen Onyema and Shehu Wada from taking any or further action regarding the actualization of their elections as trustees.
The plaintiff also prayed for the restraining of the Minister of Aviation and the Federal Ministry of Aviation from recognizing and acknowledging the Incorporated Trustees of Airline Operators of Nigeria, Azman Air services Ltd, Air Peace Ltd, Max Air Ltd, Yunusa, Onyema and Wada as trustees and officers of the AON pending the hearing and determination of the substantive case.
In the suit the plaintiffs held as follows: “A declaration that the Annual General Meeting of the 2nd Defendant and the Election held thereat on 16th September, 2020 where 1st, 3rd and 8th defendants were purportedly elected as Trustees and Officers of the 2nd Defendant was unconstitutional, wrongful and fraught with manifold irregularities, null and void.
“An order setting aside the purported Annual General Meeting of the 2nd Defendant held on 16/9/2020 and the election thereat of the 1st, 3rd and 8th defendants as members of the Executive Council of the 2nd Defendant to run its affairs for the next three years.
“An order of perpetual injunction restraining the the1st, 3rd, 4th,5th,6th,7th and 8th Defendant/Respondents from carrying on or parading themselves as Trustees, Officers of the 2nd Defendants
The suit in part read, “An order of interlocutory injunction restraining the1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th Defendant/Respondents from taking any further action, steps regarding the actualization of their elections as trustees and officers of the 2ND Defendant and or from parading themselves as the trustees and officers of the 2nd Defendants pending the hearing and determination of the substantive case.
“An order of interlocutory injunction restraining the 9th and 10th Defendants from recognising or acknowledging the the1st, 3rd, 4th,5th, 6th,7th and 8th Defendant/Respondents as trustees and officers of the 2ND Defendant pending the hearing and determination of the substantive case.”
According to the plaintiffs, unless restrained the Incorporated Trustees of Airline Operators of Nigeria, Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), Azman Air Services Ltd, Air Peace Ltd, Max Air Ltd, Yunusa, Onyema and Wada will embark on far-reaching discussions and make decisions relating to the aviation industry with the Honorable Minister of Aviation and the federal Ministry of Aviation as well as other related agencies.