NCAA Seeks Judiciary’s Partnership to Strengthen Aviation Contract Laws

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has called for closer collaboration with the judiciary to enhance understanding and enforcement of laws governing contractual agreements in the country’s aviation sector, especially those under the Cape Town Convention (CTC).

The Director-General of NCAA, Captain Chris Najomo, made the call at the grand finale of the International CTC Moot Court Competition held on Wednesday evening at the Federal High Court, Abuja. The event was organised by the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, in partnership with the NCAA and supported by the Aviation Working Group (AWG).

Najomo, represented by the Director of Operations, Licensing and Training, Captain Donald Tonye Spiff, noted that the implementation of the Cape Town Convention — which deals with international interests in mobile equipment, particularly aircraft — has strengthened Nigeria’s credibility before aircraft lessors and investors in the global aviation market.

He explained that the moot court was designed to expose students, academics, and judicial officers to the practical application of the CTC through simulated legal proceedings based on complex hypothetical cases.

“Before Nigeria adopted the CTC, many aircraft manufacturers and leasing companies were reluctant to do business with Nigerian airlines due to uncertainty about contractual enforcement. But through the efforts of the Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Festus Keyamo (SAN), Nigeria is now in the good books of these international organisations,” Najomo said.

He described the event as part of ongoing enlightenment initiatives aimed at showing that Nigeria’s aviation industry is open for transparent and credible business dealings.

Also speaking, the Secretary-General of the AWG and Co-Director of the CTC Academic Project, Mr Jeffrey Wool, described the treaty as an economically vital international framework. He said the moot court served as a practical tool for deepening understanding of its provisions among law students and members of the judiciary.

Wool further disclosed that the Federal High Court had recently issued a practice direction on handling CTC-related cases, underscoring the growing recognition of the convention’s importance in Nigeria’s legal system.

The competition featured a simulated courtroom session between law students from the University of Benin and the University of Lagos, adjudicated by a three-member panel comprising Justices Binta Nyako, Joyce Abdulmalik, and James Omotosho.

Osauyi Temiloluwa Agbonwaneten of the University of Benin emerged best advocate, followed by Adedayo Michael of the University of Lagos, while Falotan and Bawi Toluwaleyi Testimony placed third and fourth respectively.

A total of 18 universities across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones participated in the preliminary rounds of the competition, from which UNIBEN and UNILAG advanced to the final held on November 12.