Arik Air assets: AMCON appeals judgment, says court affirms AMCON’s receivership over airline

Posted by Sade Williams

The Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) has said it will appeal the judgement delivered by the Federal High Court, Lagos on Friday that the attempt to transfer Arik Air Limited Assets to NG Eagle Airlines (third defendant); an airline that the Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria tried to transmute Arik to, and Super Bravo Limited is not in the best interest of Arik Air as a whole.

In a certified true copy paper obtained by our correspondent and dated March 31, 2023, it noted that Kamilu Alaba Omokhide (First defendant), Reciever Manager of Arik Air failed to act in accordance with section 553 of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 2020.

Meanwhile, the airline in a statement on Sunday, said that the Judgement clearly and without equivocation affirmed that AMCON was competent and empowered to appoint the Receiver/Manager of Arik, that the appointment by AMCON was proper, and that the continued operations of Arik are not affected.

“Put simply: the judgment does not affect the operations of Arik or the powers of the Receiver/Manager to superintend the affairs of Arik.”, it said.

It explained further that specifically, the Judgment did not either: (i) rule against the appointment of the Receiver/Manager of Arik or (ii) “grant all the prayers of the Plaintiffs” as stated in certain online publications. The Court did hold that the Receiver/Manager was obligated to act in the best interests of Arik and other creditors – a point that AMCON, and the Receiver/Manager have never disputed.

“In any event, AMCON and the Receiver/Manager are dissatisfied with certain parts of the Judgment relating to AMCON’s dealings in specific transactions concerning limited assets. We are exercising our constitutional rights to appeal, in respect of these.

“The public should bear in mind that the issues under appeal have no bearing on the continued operation of Arik as a company in Receivership – as the Court has already affirmed the Receivership.”, it added.