Helicopter crash involving Access Bank boss: Family of Ogunbanjo sues chopper company

The family of late Abimbola Ogunbanjo, the former group chairman of Nigerian Exchange Group Plc (NGX Group), who was killed in a Southern California helicopter crash in February, has filed a lawsuit against the US chopper company.

Herbert Wigwe, former group chief executive officer (GCEO) of Access Holdings Plc, his wife and son, were also in the helicopter when it crashed near the Nevada border.

Ogunbajo’s wife and two children filed the suit on Wednesday in San Bernardino County superior court against Orbic Air, the charter company, and Brady Bowers, its CEO, alleging wrongful death and negligence.

In the court filing, the family said Orbic Air LLC improperly flew the helicopter despite a “wintry mix” of snowy and rainy conditions.

Andrew C. Robb, one of the attorneys who filed the lawsuit, said 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.”

The lawsuit seeks a jury trial and payment for Ogunbanjo’s burial and funeral expenses, as well as other damages.

Robb and Robb LLC, Robb’s firm, represented Vanessa Bryant, Kobe Bryant’s widow, in her lawsuit against the pilot and owners of the helicopter that crashed in Calabasas in 2020, killing the basketball star, his daughter, Gianna, and seven others.

The lawsuit was settled the following year for an undisclosed amount.

The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said it was looking into the accident.

However, the board noted that a full NTSB investigation will last 12 to 24 months before a final report is published.

The NTSB said it would look into the chopper’s airworthiness; maintenance and structure; operations; meteorology and air traffic control.

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