The management of Arik Air (In Receivership) has expressed their dismay over an order issued by the Minister of Aviation to ground some of the aircraft in its fleet across the country.
According to a statement issued and signed by the Chief Executive Officer, Arik Air (In Receivership), Captain Roy Ilegbodu, the minister grounded the plane “without warning or consultation, which has serious repercussions for our valued passengers, dedicated employees, and the broader Nigerian economy.
The development came even as the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has instructed all airport managers across the country to assist the affected passengers as Arik Airline works out plans to rebook and transfer passengers to other available flights.
FAAN in a statement made available to the media attributed the directive to all airport managers to its awareness of the grounding of Arik Air due to litigation issues between the airline and its creditors.
A statement earlier issued by the CEO of Arik Air declared: “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. On February 26, 2016, a judgment was made in favour of Atlas Petroleum International Limited and Engineer Arthur Eze. However, there is an ongoing case in the Federal High Court, where Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) is asserting its secured interest in Arik’s assets. Despite this, a writ of attachment was issued on July 18, 2024, targeting our Aircraft, subsequent to which, further to an originating motion filed by AMCON, the High Court of the FCT on July 25, 2024, clearly instructed all parties to maintain status quo.
“We are therefore perplexed as to the grounding of our fleet, which is an overreach of the ongoing judicial processes and directives of court. We believe this action undermines the rule of law and sets a dangerous precedent, prioritizing unsecured private interests over the public good and the rights of secured creditors. We are committed to following the legal process and have full faith in the judiciary to resolve these matters fairly.
“Arik has always been a proud partner in Nigeria’s growth, providing reliable and safe air travel. We urge the authorities to reconsider this decision, lift the grounding order, and allow us to continue serving the public and supporting the economy.
We stand with our passengers and employees during this challenging time and are working tirelessly to resolve this situation. Your support and understanding are greatly appreciated. We sincerely regret any inconvenience caused to our esteemed passengers.”
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