LAGOS, Nigeria – Private Nigerian airline, Air Peace Ltd, has on Tuesday, June 6, 2023, sued the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, at the Federal High Court in Lagos over allegations of operational disruption.
The airline seeks N1 billion in general damages, N450 million in special damages, and N250 million as exemplary damages.
The airline filed the lawsuit under Order 6(6)(b) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), Order 28 Rules 1 & 2 of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2019, and the inherent jurisdiction of the court.
The suit also names the presidents and secretaries of NLC and TUC as defendants.
In its claim, Air Peace alleges that the defendants precipitated a nationwide paralysis by grounding its flights, an action it describes as sabotage of national economy and security, given the aviation sector’s sensitivity.
The airline is requesting an order of perpetual injunction to prevent the defendants from continuing the alleged intimidation and coercion.
According to court documents, the airline’s lawyer, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chijioke Okoli, recounts that on May 3, 2023, a mob disrupted Air Peace’s operations at the Murtala Mohammed Airport, Lagos, leading to workplace disruption, physical injuries to employees, and the cancellation of scheduled flights across several airports, including the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja, and Sam Mbakwe Airport, Owerri.
Air Peace claims that the defendants’ actions were designed to “punish” the Governor of Imo State, Chief Hope Uzodimma, by instigating a total shutdown of Imo State from May 3, 2023.
The airline alleges that these disruptions led to significant financial losses, physical and psychological trauma to its staff, and injury to its business reputation.
It also alleges that its lawyers’ request for the defendants to make amends was disregarded, with further harm to its operations threatened.
Air Peace is therefore seeking damages totalling N1.7 billion, condemning the defendants’ actions as egregiously malicious, scandalous and deserving of reproach.
