The family of the late Abimbola Ogunbanjo, former Chairman of the Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX), has initiated legal proceedings against the U.S. helicopter company involved in the tragic February crash that claimed his life and the lives of five others.
Ogunbanjo was among the victims of the fatal helicopter crash near the California-Nevada border, which also claimed the lives of Dr. Herbert Wigwe, former CEO of Access Holdings, his wife, and their son.
In a lawsuit filed recently, the Ogunbanjo family alleges that the charter company, Orbic Air, exhibited negligence by operating the helicopter under hazardous weather conditions. The lawsuit asserts that Orbic Air disregarded the adverse weather conditions prevailing in the Mojave Desert at the time of the crash, which included a mix of snow and rain.
Represented by the law firm Robb & Robb, the Ogunbanjo family is seeking a jury trial to recover burial and funeral expenses, along with unspecified damages arising from the tragic incident.
Andrew C. Robb, one of the attorneys representing the family, stressed that helicopters are not suitable for operation in snowy and icy conditions, stating, “This flight was entirely preventable, and we don’t know why they took off.”
The lawsuit, filed at San Bernardino County Superior Court, aims to obtain compensation for Ogunbanjo’s wrongful death. It identifies Orbic Air and its CEO, Brady Bowers, as defendants, alleging negligence for allowing the flight to proceed amid poor weather conditions.
Furthermore, the lawsuit includes claims against the unidentified successors of individuals named Pettingill and Hansen, whom the Ogunbanjo family believes might share responsibility for the crash. As of now, Orbic Air has not responded to the lawsuit.
Meanwhile, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) continues its investigation into the crash’s cause. Although a preliminary report released in February outlined the helicopter’s flight path and wreckage, the exact cause of the accident remains undetermined.
