XEJet sues SAHCO, AGHAN, seeks N16.1bn over alleged grounding, confidentiality breach

XEJet Limited, has instituted two separate suits before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), seeking a combined N16.1 billion in damages from Skyway Aviation Handling Company Plc (SAHCO) and the Incorporated Trustees of Aviation Ground Handlers Association of Nigeria (AGHAN).

In the first suit, XEJet accused SAHCO of breaching confidentiality by allegedly disclosing information about its commercial account to AGHAN, while also challenging the handling company’s withdrawal of ground handling services.

The suit, marked FCT/HC/CV/4506/2026, was filed by XEJet’s counsel, Alex Izinyon II, on Wednesday.

The airline is seeking, among other reliefs, declarations that information relating to its account with SAHCO, including invoices, statements of account, amounts paid and outstanding, payment history, communications and payment proposals, constituted confidential information protected under their Standard Ground Handling Agreement.

XEJet also wants the court to determine whether SAHCO breached the confidentiality clause by disclosing such information to AGHAN, whose statement of September 28 was subsequently published by the media.

The airline is further challenging SAHCO’s decision to withdraw ground handling services on September 28, arguing that the handling company’s credit policy was not incorporated into the contract between both parties.

In an affidavit supporting the originating summons, XEJet’s Group Chief Executive Officer, Emmanuel Ayuba Iza, said the parties were bound by a Standard Ground Handling Agreement effective January 1, 2026.

Under the agreement, he said, SAHCO was contracted to provide ground handling services for XEJet’s aircraft, passengers and baggage at Abuja, Lagos, Benin, Asaba and Warri airports.

In the separate suit against AGHAN, XEJet is seeking N15 billion in general, aggravated and exemplary damages over what it described as false information published about the airline.

XEJet said it maintained a commercial ground-handling account with SAHCO, which is a member of AGHAN. The airline claimed AGHAN intended and knew that the statement would be republished by national newspapers and online platforms.  The suits are yet to be determined by the court.