The family of Abimbola Ogunbanjo, former Chairman of the Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX Group), filed a wrongful death lawsuit on Wednesday against US-based Orbic Air LLC, the charter company that operated the helicopter that crashed in Southern California in February. Ogunbanjo was one of five people killed in the accident.
The lawsuit alleges that Orbic Air acted negligently by flying the helicopter despite hazardous weather conditions, including snow and rain, in the Mojave Desert on February 9th. Ogunbanjo’s family contends that the flight should have been grounded due to the dangerous conditions.
The lawsuit seeks a jury trial and unspecified damages, including compensation for Ogunbanjo’s burial and funeral expenses. It was filed in San Bernardino County Superior Court by Los Angeles law firm Robb & Robb, which also represented Vanessa Bryant in her lawsuit following the 2020 helicopter crash that killed her husband, Kobe Bryant.
“This flight was entirely preventable,” said Andrew C. Robb, one of the attorneys representing Ogunbanjo’s family. “Helicopters are not suited for snow and ice conditions. We are seeking answers and accountability for what happened.”
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is currently investigating the crash. A preliminary report released in February detailed the flight path and wreckage, while witnesses reported seeing a “fireball” during 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.
This tragic accident claimed the lives of prominent figures. In addition to Ogunbanjo, Dr. Herbert Wigwe, former CEO of Access Holdings, his wife, and their son were also onboard the ill-fated helicopter.
