Shareholders of Arik Air Ltd have written to the airline’s Receiver Manager, Mr Oluseye Opasanya, demanding an explanation over the ongoing dismantling of one of the airline’s aircraft, a Boeing 737-700, at the domestic wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), Lagos.
The
shareholders, through a letter signed by a major shareholder, Johnson
Arumemi-Ikhide, dated August 17, 2026 said they had observed what appeared to
be the ongoing dismantling of an aircraft belonging to the airline.
However,
the Media Consultant to Arik Air in Receivership, Simon Tumba, had said that
the aircraft in question was sold after all necessary processes had been
followed.
Tumba
said the aircraft was subjected to security in favour of Access Bank, adding
that the bank had provided the relevant security documentation to Arik Air and
subsequently to AMCON.
According
to him, the documentation was verified as genuine, and neither Arik Air nor
AMCON objected to Access Bank’s exercise of its security rights.
The
shareholders’ letter demanded clarification on the identity, ownership and
security status of the aircraft.
The
shareholders also sought details of the authority and purpose for the
dismantling, as well as whether the aircraft or any of its components was
connected to the indebtedness allegedly owed by Arik Air to Access Bank.
For detailed information on our editing services, please
see inside
The
shareholders recalled an earlier correspondence from the receiver manager dated
October 22, 2024, concerning the alleged indebtedness to Access Bank and the
bank’s purported security over Arik aircraft and engines.
They
said the requested documentation was neither supplied with the receiver
manager’s October 2024 letter nor, to their knowledge, subsequently produced in
a satisfactory manner.
The
shareholders further stated that they had informed the receiver manager that
the matter was also under criminal investigation by a government law
enforcement agency.
The
development comes amid a long-running dispute over Arik Air’s financial
obligations and the status of its aircraft and other assets following the
appointment of a receiver-manager by the Asset Management Corporation of
Nigeria (AMCON).
The
shareholders warned that the dismantling raised serious questions about the
preservation of Arik Air’s assets and the manner in which the airline’s affairs
were being handled under receivership.
The
shareholders also drew attention to Opasanya’s status as a Senior Advocate of
Nigeria, saying his professional standing made adherence to the obligations
attached to his office particularly important.
The
shareholders maintained that their letter should not be interpreted as consent
or acquiescence to any dealing involving Arik Air’s assets, adding that the
letter was without prejudice to their pending proceedings before the Federal
High Court, in which the receiver manager was a party, and to all their rights
and remedies.
0 Comments:
Post a Comment