Almost 11 years after the revocation of its operating licence, the management of Slok Air Nigeria Limited has dragged the Federal Government to court, demanding over N20 billion as damage for the illegal revocation.
The Chief Olusegun Obasanjo-led Federal Government had announced the revocation of Slok Air operating licence on March 12, 2004, just a year after the airline was licenced, without any tangible reason for the action.
Slok Air, which promised to feel the vacuum created by the non-existence of a national carrier for the country, was being promoted by the former Governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu.
The grounding of the promising airline was described as political, as it was largely attributed to the stern criticism coming from the ex-governor against the then leadership of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
But in a writ of summons, filed at the Federal High Court, Abuja, yesterday, by the company’s legal team, led by Chief Chris Uche (SAN), the company sought the order of the court to declare as ‘unlawful, illegal and a gross violation of due process required in matters of this nature’ the revocation of its operating licence through electronic and print media.
Defendants in the suit are; the Federal Ministry of Aviation, Minister of Aviation and the Attorney General of the Federation.
Aside declaring the revocation as unlawful and illegal, Slok Air also sought the order of the court directing the defendants to restore its operational licence, which it also wanted the court to declare as ‘valid and subsisting.’
The summons read in part: “A declaration that the revocation of operational licence granted the plaintiff (Slok Air) by the 1st and 2nd defendants on the 22nd day of April, 2003 through electronic and print media is unlawful, illegal and a gross violation of due process required in matters of this nature. A declaration that the 1st and 2nd defendants have no right, save with strict compliance with the laid down rules, to revoke the operational 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 cannot be revoked save in strict compliance with due process and laid down procedure.
“A declaration that the 1st and 2nd defendants have no justifiable reason whatsoever to revoke the operating licence with reference No. FMA/ATMD/802/S.648/1/140, dated the 22nd day of April, 2003 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 is valid and subsisting
“A declaration that the defendants cannot revoke the operating licence granted the plaintiff with reference No. FMA/ATMD/802/S.648/1/140 dated the 22nd day of April, 2003 through electronic and print media.”
The embattled airline also sought the order of the court to direct the defendants to revalidate the operating licence as well as restrain the defendants, ‘whether by themselves, assigns, agents, privies or whatsoever purporting to act on their behalf from interfering with the operating licence of the plaintiff.
