Panel Adjourns Hearing On Fare Fixing

The panel that was set up recently to review a case of fare fixing against British Airways and Virgin Atlantic as alleged by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has adjourned hearing to January 9, 2012.

The chairman of the panel, Justice G.A Oguntade explained that the panel was set up to review the decision of the aviation regulatory body which awarded some damages against the two British carriers, stressing that the panel would operate with an open mind to listen to the parties over the allegation of fare racketeering.

“The panel is to review some damages against BA and Virgin Atlantic, and the airlines concerned are taking advantage of the laws in Nigeria to test the correctiveness of the decision against them”.

“There was a ruling against them and they were dissatisfied with the ruling and they came to the appeal panel to test the correctiveness of the decisions of NCAA investigative committee. All we have to do is to examine the bases of the decision and to determine the bases of the decision and to know whether they were in accordance with the law”, he added.

The panel could not make progress on the matter as counsels to the airlines said that they were still expecting the NCAA to furnish them with some documents for their defence.

The panel therefore adjourned hearing to January 9, 2012 to allow all the parties to file their respective briefs/appeals to the secretariat.

Other members of the panel are KGB Oguakwa, Alhaji Bala Ibn Na Allah while Callistus E. Uwakwe, a lawyer and author of “Introduction to Civil Aviation Law” is the secretary of panel.