AGS NEWS – On Tuesday, many Arik Air passengers were stranded at Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos and Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport in Abuja after the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) grounded an Arik aircraft.

The grounding was due to a court order from a creditor, billionaire businessman Arthur Eze, who is owed $2.5 million by Arik Air’s founder, Johnson Arumemi-Ikhide.

NAMA’s spokesperson, Abdullahi Musa, explained that the action followed a July 19, 2024, FCT High Court order to secure the debt by attaching Arik’s planes. The court also issued a public auction notice for July 26, 2024, if the debt remained unpaid.

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Despite Arik obtaining an ex-parte order to stop further execution, NAMA had not been formally served and thus grounded the aircraft to preserve the court’s jurisdiction over the matter. ]NAMA stressed compliance with the court order to avoid compromising legal procedures.

The grounding disrupted travel plans for many passengers. One passenger, Mr. Adeniran, expressed disappointment, saying he missed a crucial business meeting in Abuja.

Another, Aina Oluwaseun, was frustrated as his children’s return from a holiday in Abuja was affected, and he urged Arik to either book another flight or refund the ticket money.

Arik Air’s CEO, Capt. Roy Ilegbodu, in receivership, expressed shock over the grounding, stating it was done without warning and would disrupt critical domestic routes, impacting passengers and increasing travel costs.

He emphasized that the action disregarded ongoing judicial processes and affected Nigerians relying on their services.

Ilegbodu pointed out that while a judgment was made in favor of Atlas Petroleum International Limited and Arthur Eze on February 26, 2016, a case asserting AMCON’s secured interest in Arik’s assets is ongoing.

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Despite a writ of attachment issued on July 18, 2024, the FCT High Court instructed all parties to maintain the status quo.

Arik Air, committed to following the legal process, urged authorities to lift the grounding order to continue serving the public and supporting the economy.

The company expressed confidence in the judiciary to resolve the matter fairly and reassured passengers and employees of their efforts to resolve the situation.

A source revealed that the FCT High Court’s enforcement department attached Arik’s aircraft on July 19, 2024, due to the $2.5 million debt owed to Atlas Petroleum International Limited.