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Operator alleges plot to withdraw disputed jets

By Wole Oyebade
12 November 2018   |   3:31 am
The Federal High Court orders notwithstanding, a party to the 'stolen' jets saga at Lagos airport has alleged a fresh plot to ferry the disputed assets out of the country.

Plane on the runway for takeoff

The Federal High Court orders notwithstanding, a party to the ‘stolen’ jets saga at Lagos airport has alleged a fresh plot to ferry the disputed assets out of the country. Topbrass Aviation Services Limited claimed at the weekend that repairs and overhaul were ongoing on one of the Bombardier Dash 8 Q300 aircraft to get it serviceable for a flight to an undisclosed destination.

However, the court, will on Wednesday, November 14, hear a contempt suit. The Guardian recently reported that the two Bombardier Dash 8 Q300 aircraft, formerly used by Topbrass Aviation Services Limited, a local operator, were allegedly stolen in Lagos. The airplanes with registration numbers 5N-TBB and 5N-TBC have been the focus of a legal tussle between the lessor, Seagold Investment Limited, and Topbrass Aviation Services. Some interested parties from the presidency allegedly acquired the aircraft contrary to the orders of the Federal High Court that none of the parties should access the assets.

The planes had been removed from their lots at the General Aviation Terminal of the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA) and stationed at the Aero Contractors’ Maintenance and Overhaul (AMO) hangar but with their registration numbers reportedly detached. Chief Executive Officer of Topbrass, Capt. Roland Iyayi, confirmed that one of the aircraft was last week returned to the Aero Contractors AMO hangar “to remove its engines, either to repair same or have it replaced with another.”

He said since the facility had been grounded for two years, such repairs were expected to revive it. “The repairs could only suggest that there are plans to return them to service, contrary to court orders and ongoing hearing,” he said. The CEO further said it was difficult to identify which of the two aircraft that was being repaired since the registration numbers had been allegedly dismantled.

Aero Contractors, however, declined comments, saying the matter was in court. Besides Aero, other served with the contempt notice are the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA); Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN); Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) boss, Capt. Muktar Usman; the airline’s Managing Director, Capt. Ado Sanusi, and a pilot in the presidential fleet, Capt. Baba Mohammed.

The two 50-seater airplanes, manufactured in 2004, came into operations of Seagold a year later.In 2011, Seagold and Topbrass signed a finance purchase agreement for the two craft, upon which the latter paid $12 million in over a 30-month lease tenure.NCAA Director General, Muktar Usman, told reporters that Topbrass violated the agreement

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