The family of Abimbola Ogunbanjo, the former chairman of the Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX), is suing the U.S. helicopter company involved in the February crash that claimed his life.
Ogunbanjo was among six people killed when the helicopter went down near the California-Nevada border. Other victims included Dr. Herbert Wigwe, former CEO of Access Holdings, his wife, and their son.
The lawsuit filed against Orbic Air, the charter company, alleges negligence. The Ogunbanjo family claims the company disregarded hazardous weather conditions, including a “wintry mix” of snow and rain in the Mojave Desert at the time of the crash.
“This flight was entirely preventable, and we don’t know why they took off,” said Andrew C. Robb, one of the attorneys representing the family. “Helicopters do not do very well in snow and ice,” he added to the Associated Press.
The lawsuit seeks compensation for Ogunbanjo’s wrongful death and names Orbic Air’s CEO, Brady Bowers, as a defendant. It also includes claims against unidentified individuals believed to be involved in the operation.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is still investigating the cause of the crash. A preliminary report released in February documented the flight path and wreckage, but the exact cause remains undetermined. Witnesses reported seeing the fiery crash occur during a snow and rain storm.
