Lagos lawyer Mr. Femi Falana has given the Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah, seven days to provide the name of a “very important personality” (VIP) who caused the delayed landing of an Arik aircraft at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, for over 25 minutes on June 19.
He said the request, made under the Freedom of Information(FOI) Act, 2011, is to enable him sue the supposed VIP for endangering the lives of over 150 passengers on board the plane.
Falana said: “Take notice that if you fail or refuse to accede to my request within seven days of the receipt of this letter, I shall not hesitate to apply for an order of mandamus at the Federal High Court with a view to compelling you to disclose the identity of the said Very Important Personality forthwith.”
The popular lawyer made the request in a letter to the minister, entitled: Illegal Prevention of Arik Plane from Landing At the Nnamdi Azikwe Airport Due To VIP Movement.
He noted that the Freedom of Information Act, 2011, imposes a duty on all public officers to make requested information available to the public.
Falana said he and other passengers were subjected to unwarranted mental and psychological torture while the Arik plane was hovering in the air.
He said: “I boarded Arik Flight Number W3 271 from Lagos to Abuja at 10.20am on Tuesday, June 19, 2012. The flight, which was scheduled to land at the Nnamdi Azikwe Airport, Abuja, at 11.15am, was illegally prevented from landing by the airport authorities until 11.46am due to the alleged movement of a ‘very important personality’.
“Having regard to the June 3, 2012 Dana plane crash in Lagos, which killed all the 153 passengers and crew on board as well as 10 other persons in their homes, I was subjected to unwarranted mental and psychological torture. Most other passengers on board were equally traumatised as the Arik plane was forced to hover in the air for 25 minutes.
By
No comments:
Post a Comment