The family of the late former Chairman of the Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX), Abimbola Ogunbanjo, who was killed in a Southern California helicopter crash in February has filed a lawsuit against the US helicopter company.
The former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Access Holdings, Dr. Herbert Wigwe was also on board the ill-fated helicopter alongside his wife and son.
The lawsuit claims that Orbic Air was negligent in operating the helicopter under dangerous weather conditions, such as snow and rain, in the Mojave Desert on February 9th. Ogunbanjo’s family argues that the flight should have been canceled because of the risky conditions.
The legal action requests a trial by jury and unspecified financial compensation, which covers the costs of Ogunbanjo’s burial and funeral. This lawsuit was submitted to the San Bernardino County Superior Court by the Los Angeles-based law firm Robb & Robb, the same firm that represented Vanessa Bryant in her case after the tragic helicopter accident in 2020 that claimed the life of her husband, Kobe Bryant.
One of the attorneys who filed the lawsuit, Andrew C. Robb, noted Ogunbanjo’s family is seeking “answers and accountability.”
“Helicopters do not do very well in snow and ice,” Robb told The Associated Press.
“This flight was entirely preventable, and we don’t know why they took off,” He added.
Where Was Ogunbanjo Heading To Before He Met His Untimely Death?
The 61-year-old deceased was on his way to Las Vegas to attend the Super Bowl.
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Benjamin Pettingill, aged 25, and Blake Hansen, aged 22, both perished in the incident. They held licenses as commercial helicopter pilots and were also qualified as flight instructors.
NTSB And Its Involvement In The Case
The crash is currently under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). A preliminary report, which was released in February, provided information on the flight path and wreckage. Witnesses also mentioned seeing a “fireball” amidst the snowy and rainy conditions.
Ogunbanjo’s wife and two children are also named as plaintiffs in the lawsuit, which additionally names the unidentified successors of Pettingill and Hansen, who are also believed to be involved in the incident. Orbic Air has not yet commented on the lawsuit.
What Preliminary Report Said About The Crash
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) received the preliminary report from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) regarding the helicopter crash that claimed the life of Dr Herbert Wigwe, former Group CEO of Access Bank, and five others.
The Director, of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, NSIB Bimbo Oladeji, disclosed this in a statement.
The tragic incident occurred on Feb. 9, involving an Airbus Helicopter EC130B4 in Halloran Springs, California. Initial findings suggest the helicopter suffered catastrophic damage as it caught fire before the crash due to adverse weather conditions.
It also added witnesses reported the weather conditions in the area were ‘not good’ and raining with a snow mix.
Wigwe, the late seasoned banker was in the chopper with registration N130CZ alongside his wife, son, and a former Group Chairman of Nigerian Exchange Group Plc, Abimbola Ogunbanjo.
All six people on board were confirmed dead.
As the investigation progresses, NSIB remains committed to engaging with the NTSB for a comprehensive understanding of the circumstances leading to the accident.
The Director-General of NSIB, Capt. Alex Badeh, expressed gratitude for the cooperation extended by the NTSB, emphasizing the ongoing collaboration with relevant authorities to gather additional evidence and information.
