A Federal High Court Judge in Lagos has issued an injunction against Dana Airline restraining it from flying outside the country and the jurisdiction of the court.
The Mareva injunction issued by Judge Saidu, comes as part a lawsuit suing the airline for failure to compensate and resettle displaced victims affected by a crash.
On June 3, 2012 a Dana Airliner crashed in Iju-Ishaga area, a suburb of Lagos, killing 159 people. The plaintiff in the lawsuit, Pastor Daniel Omowunmi, is the owner of a furniture and books warehouse that was destroyed in the crash.
Counsel to the businessman, Mr. Olumide Olaiya said seeking the injunction became necessary as the airline had become notorious for avoiding compensation to the victims.
He said it would prevent the airline from selling any of its aircraft before first taking care of Pastor Daniel's affected business. "It is just like in the case of Sosoliso airlines, and our client would not have been protected," Mr. Olaiya said.
(Sosoliso airlines had a deadly crash on December 2005 when 110 people were killed. The airlines' planes were grounded to ensure better service and safety.)
Pastor Daniel Omowunmi tried repeatedly to get damages from Dana Airline but with no result. He protested at the airline's offices in Ikeja by locking them up to prevent operations. The company called the police to stop him.
The Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) revealed the aircraft, Dana 0992, lost both its engines mid-air. Although claims about what caused the plane to lose its engines were not revealed. Concerns have been raised about standards of safety and routine maintenance checks, particularly involving Nigerian domestic carriers.
Following the crash, the Lagos State Government took over three houses and a business premise without any aid to victims, and Dana Airline recovered its operating license in a short time.
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