Slok Air sues Obasanjo, Yuguda

There seems to be no let in the air in the quest by the
management of Slok Air to reclaim its Air Operators’ licence
as the company yesterday dragged former President Olusegun
Obasanjo, to court over the controversial revocation of its
licence 12 years ago.
The embattled company had on Monday dragged the Federal
Ministry of Aviation, Minister of Aviation and the Attorney-
General of the Federation before a Federal High Court, Abuja,
demanding N20 billion compensation for the grounding of its
operations.
But as a follow-up to the suit, Slok Air, yesterday took the bull
by the horn by suing Obasanjo and his then Minister of
Aviation, Alhaji Isa Yuguda, demanding N10 billion as cost of
damages arising from the controversial revocation of its
licence.
In a six-paragraph Writ of Summons filed by the company’s
lawyers, Messrs Amobi Nzelu Esq and Gabriel Adenyuma Esq,
Slok Air urged the court to declare that neither of the two
defendants had right to revoke its operating licence without
due process.
The Federal Government had announced the revocation of Slok
Air’s Air Operators licence on March 12, 2004, barely a year
after it was licenced. No tangible reason was offered by the
Obasanjo-led Federal Government then for the action.
But in the fresh suit, Slok Air, which is being bankrolled by the
former governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, also urged
the court to declare that political differences “should not and
does not constitute a valid ground for revocation of the plain­
tiff’s licence.”
The summons read in parts: “A declaration that the defen­
dants have no right whatsoever without complying with the
due process to revoke the operating licence granted to the
plaintiff.
“A declaration that the operating licence granted to the
plaintiff with reference No. FMA/ ATMD/802/S.648/1/140,
dated the 22nd day of April, 2003 and duly signed by the then
Minister of Aviation, Dr. (Mrs.) Kema Chikwe, cannot be
revoked verbally through electronic or print media without
complying with the laid down procedure as relates to
revocation of licence.
“A declaration that the defendants maliciously and without any
justification revoked the operating licence issued to the
plaintiff.
“A declaration that the political differences in whatever form or
guise should not and does not constitute a valid ground for
revocation of the plaintiff’s licence.
“The sum of N10 billion only being general and aggravated
damages against the defendants jointly and severally arising
from the unlawful and illegal revocation of the plaintiff’s
operating licence.”