A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Bwari, has ordered that a disputed aircraft linked to NG Eagle Airline Limited be grounded.
Justice M. A. Madugu who gave the order also restrained parties from selling, transferring or tampering with two aircraft at the centre of a disputed $5.3 million transaction.
Justice Madugu gave the order on February 26, 2026, while ruling on an application before his court brought by Rekers Engineering & Construction Limited against Galactic Aviation Limited, Mr. Abdullahi Ahmed, NG Eagle Airline Limited and the Minister for Aviation and Aerospace Development.
The court, in its ruling, granted substantial interlocutory relief sought by the claimant, Rekers Engineering & Construction Limited.
The claimant had through his counsel, Taiwo Hassan (SAN), approached the court seeking preservatory orders to restrain further flights and commercial operations involving two Embraer aircraft pending determination of the substantive suit.
Specifically, the company asked the court to ground the Embraer EMB-145MP aircraft and prevent the sale, marketing or further dealing with both the EMB-145MP and EMB-145LR aircraft, which it claimed remained unpaid for after delivery.
In a 57-paragraph affidavit deposed to by its Managing Director, Umar Sheriff Lawan, the claimant maintained that it was the legal owner of the aircraft and had entered into an Aircraft Sale and Purchase Agreement dated August 28, 2024, with the first and second defendants.
According to the claimant, the agreed purchase price for the aircraft was $5.3 million approximately N8.5 billion with an initial payment of N3 billion and the balance payable within 30 days.
The claimant alleged that despite delivering the aircraft, the defendants failed to pay the outstanding balance, re-registered the aircraft in their names and commenced commercial operations through NG Eagle Airline Limited, generating revenue while the claimant’s funds remained tied down.
It further alleged that parts from the EMB-145LR aircraft were dismantled and used to keep the EMB-145MP operational, a development it argued compromised safety and reduced the value of the second aircraft.
The company also told the court that mediation efforts involving aviation regulators led to proposed resolutions, including return of the unpaid aircraft and a payment plan, but these were not implemented.
However, the defendants opposed the application.
In a counter-affidavit deposed to by Adamu Haruna Zemo, Head of Quality and Safety of Galactic Aviation Limited, the defendants argued that the aircraft were purchased on the understanding they were airworthy but that inspection revealed defects.
They claimed the EMB-145LR aircraft was returned due to defects, while the EMB-145MP required repairs costing about $1.2 million before it was put into service.
The defendants also insisted that re-registration was done lawfully with the claimant’s consent.
The defendants denied removing parts from the second aircraft and maintained that the airline operates the aircraft commercially as a lessee.
They further contended that the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority investigated the claimant’s petition, found the allegations baseless and cleared the aircraft to resume operations.
Counsel for the defendants argued that any loss suffered by the claimant was monetary and compensable by damages, warning that grounding the aircraft would disrupt commercial operations and affect the flying public.
In resolving the dispute, Justice Madugu held that a single issue was determinative whether the claimant satisfied the legal requirements for the grant of interlocutory injunction.
The judge reiterated that interlocutory injunction is an equitable and discretionary remedy aimed at preserving the subject matter of litigation pending trial.
