Arik Air (W3, Lagos) has filed a suit against the Nigerian government over plans for the airline to be taken over by Ethiopian Airlines (ET, Addis Ababa International), reports the News Agency of Nigeria. The suit, filed at the Federal High Court in Lagos, asks that Ethiopian Airlines and the Federal Ministry of Transportation be restrained from takeover negotiations.
Arik Air has been under the control of the government through its Asset Management Corporation (AMCON) since February. After months of speculation, Ethiopian Airlines confirmed in late August that it was indeed in talks to manage the crippled Nigerian airline.
The founder of Arik Air, Joseph Arumeni-Ikhide, has previously voiced his strong opposition to any takeover of Arik Air by the Ethiopians, saying that he would launch a legal challenge if it did so. He is not the instigator, however, of this suit, which is being pursued by Chris Ndulue, an Arik Air Director.
Ndulue's statement claims that as two suits are currently pending questioning the validity of AMCON's original takeover of Arik Air, no discussions with outside parties can occur.
"The plaintiff further avers that the action taken by the first and second defendants will have a negative effect on the country's image as the plaintiff being the largest airline will be pawned over to another country for management," Ndulue's affidavit reads.
No date has yet been set to hear this new case.
