The family of Abimbola Ogunbanjo, former Chairman of the Nigerian Exchange Group, who tragically lost his life in a helicopter crash near the Nevada border in California this February, is taking legal action against the US helicopter company involved.
Among those onboard the ill-fated flight were Dr. Herbert Wigwe, former CEO of Access Holdings, along with his wife and son. The lawsuit, filed by the Ogunbanjo family on Wednesday, April 10, claims that the flight should have been grounded due to adverse weather conditions.
According to reports from the Press Enterprise, the family alleges that Orbic Air, the charter company responsible for the flight, operated the helicopter despite hazardous snowy and rainy conditions in the Mojave Desert. Andrew C. Robb, one of the attorneys representing the family, emphasized their quest for “answers and accountability,” stating, “Helicopters do not do very well in snow and ice.”
The lawsuit, seeking justice for the wrongful death and negligence, targets Orbic Air, its CEO Brady Bowers, and other individuals associated with the flight. Despite the legal action, Orbic Air has remained silent on the matter.
Meanwhile, the National Transportation Safety Board is conducting an investigation into the crash, with a preliminary report released in February shedding light on the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.
The legal proceedings aim to secure compensation for burial and funeral expenses, among other damages incurred by the Ogunbanjo family. Represented by Robb & Robb, the same law firm that handled Vanessa Bryant’s lawsuit following Kobe Bryant’s helicopter crash in 2020, the family seeks closure and justice amidst this devastating loss.