Two Nigerians, who claim they were instrumental in launch of Antigua Airways, have sued for being cut out of ‘not viable’ deal

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There are reports that a lawsuit against Antigua Airways has been filed in the High Court in Abuja, Nigeria, and this could have repercussions for Antigua and Barbuda.

Information about the court action was first shared on ZDK, as a breaking-news bulletin, on Thursday, March 23.

The radio station reported that two Nigerian businessmen are suing the company – in which the Government of Antigua and Barbuda reportedly has a 20 percent stake.

Reportedly, the suit is being brought against several persons, including Michael Akinola and his company, Marvelous Mike Press Ltd.; Emmanuel Samson, president of the Antigua-Nigeria Chamber of Commerce, and the chamber, itself.

Both claimants allege that they were cut out of the airline deal – after having been instrumental in establishing its launch – and have made other accusations against two of the respondents.

They claim they were told that the airline venture was not viable and carried too high a risk, and were dropped from any further dealings with the company – although they had signed a business agreement on April 1, 2022.

It is alleged that the duo is asking the court for their initial partnership agreement of US$1 million in finder’s fees; 6 percent of the projected audited annual revenue of the airline; and three of the 10 Antigua and Barbuda passports handed over to the investors by the Gaston Browne Administration.

Reports are that the case has been docketed for next Monday, March 27, after having been filed in October 2022.

Residents have noted, with surprise, that litigation began even before the inaugural Antigua Airways flight landed here, to a water-cannon salute, on November 1, 2022. Three other flights – now mired in accusations of “copy-catting” and “duping” of the Cabinet – followed.

“The cargo is probably what forced at least the first flight to happen,” one resident tells REAL News.

Another says, “This is embarrassing to our country… . Soon, and very soon, it will have repercussions.”

Others tell our Newsroom they are not surprised that controversy and lawsuits are now dogging the controversial airline, with one senior government worker noting that “what is done in the dark must come to light.”

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19 COMMENTS

  1. Michael Akinola. That is the first time I have heard Marvellous Mike’s real name. 10 Antigua passports were “handed over” to Marvellous Mike and now the claimants want 3 of them to be handed over to them? Are these candy that is being handed out by our government?

  2. Governor General: you are obligated to initiate a public inquiry now.
    It is the moral right of the nation to know exactly how our money. It is the peoples’ money that was utilized to help set up this fiasco in the first place so obviously it is their right to know the whole story.

    If you do not believe in TRUTH, I still want you to know this: That EVERY MAN/WOMAN will give account for his/her stewardship in this life. There is NO escape from this.
    You can hide from man’s justice, but there is a judgment soon to come that No one will escape.

    Mr. Governor general: you too, will be called upon to answer for your silence and lack of action on behalf of the people of this nation.

    Take warning now. Heed the call. Fear no man. Fear God and do the right thing. It is God who you will have to answer to soon. Man cannot save you. So Please, Mr. GG: wake up and get some sense in your head. Use your capital sense since it is pellucid that the common sense is absent.

    You fear a mere mortal man who is a fading flower just like you are. What a fool!

    Do the honorable thing even if you are not honorable.

    WORLD “CRYSIS”: THE END IS SOON TO COME.

  3. This Governor General of Antigua and Barbuda needs to grow some balls and prove that he is not Gaston’s puppet.

  4. If this GG calls for an inquiry he would be replaced in a heart beat.Gaston Browne did say that no GG could call an inquiry on his watch.

    • Gg holds a higher pos than a pm. At least they should, not sure what is currently happening. Pm can’t replace gg

  5. What does Porkston and Nigerians have in common? They are all scammers. It’s enlightening to see Porkston has met her match. We all knew this was a scam from the get go. And now we have other Nigerian scammers wanting their cut which includes PASSPORTS and money. Porkston thinks she can give away Antigua passports at will and continues to practice creative enrichment schemes to benefit her and her family. Looks like Antigua belongs to Porkston and she can do whatever she wants with Antigua to suit her.

    Thanks to all the people who “sold” their votes for a measly microwave, driver’s license, ham, turkey, fridge and the rest of the “trimmings”, she is still the dubious PM of Antigua. One thing is for sure and that is she is living life large while those who “sold” their votes are living wondering if they getting paid, how they are going to put food on the table for their family, how they going to pay for gas for their cars, how they going to pay for electricity etc. They don’t have to pay for water as they can grab free water at the stand pipes. Well they used to but thanks to the brilliance of the govt, they didn’t strategically put the water plants in different locations and don’t maintain them and now…… no water for you.

    You got exactly what you voted for. Enjoy another 5 years of this. Maybe next time you will vote for a representative that has your interests at heart and not theirs. I hope Porkston Browne thanked you at least.

  6. Antigua agen!?
    When will it stop?
    Why every arie an Tarie comes to investor dem get our passport?
    If they are investing, aren’t they the ones to bring/give us something?
    So why we always allow these people to fly away with ownership of our most valuable things – lands and passports and in return we get scams and scandals ?
    We can’t learn!?
    What’s the true percentage we , Antigua or a few people have in it? 20, 25 or 40%?
    All I know is that murder and scamming , no arlways hide.
    According to Zarost – Author: Greg Hamerton
    Those who try to juggle wisdom, power and greed, drop one of the balls, EVERY TIME.

  7. PEOPLE ARE FIGHTING AND SUING EACH OTHER TO GET THEIR SHARE OF ANTIGUA PASSPORTS AS IF ITS SOMETHING TO SHARE UP, WHILE ANTIGUA PEOPLE HAVE TO GO THROUGH HURDLES JUST TO APPLY FOR THEIR OWN PASSPORTS.
    TWO NIGERIAN BUSINESSMEN ARE ALSO SUING FOR 3 OUT OF 10 PASSPORTS THEY GOT.

    MY QUESTIONS
    HOW DOES 3 PASSPORTS DIVIDE UP FOR 2 PEOPLE?
    WERE THESE PASSPORTS GIVEN TO THEM BLANK?
    MY REASON FOR ASKING THESE QUESTIONS IF THE GOVERNMENT GIVE MARVELLOUS MIKE 10 ANTIGUAN PASSPORTS IT WOULD BE SAFE TO ASSUME THAT THE GOVERNMENT WOULD GIVE THOSE PASSPORTS ISSUED TO THOSE 10 PERSONS WITH THEIR NAMES
    AND PHOTOGRAPH ALREADY INSIDE, SO THESE 2 BUSINESSMEN WHO ARE SUING AND CLAIMING THAT THEY WANT 3 OUT OF THE 10, THAT TELLS ME THAT THESE NIGERIANS ALL GOT BLANK PASSPORTS TO BE ANYBODY THEY WANT TO BE.

    THAT IS ONLY HOW 2 PERSONS CAN COME AND SAY THEY ARE SUING TO GET 3 OF THE PASSPORTS.
    THIS IS WHAT ANTIGUA HAS BECOME, JUST SHOW US THE MONEY AND YOU WILL GET A PASSPORT.

    QUESTIONS

    IS ANTIGUANS OK WITH THIS?
    SO IF BIN LADEN WAS ALIVE COULD HE GET ONE TOO?
    IF ADOLF HITLER WAS ALIVE COULD HE GET ONE TOO?
    LAST BUT NOT LEAST
    IF UNCLE SADDAM HUSSEIN OR AL ZAKARWI WERE ALIVE COULD THEY GET ONE TOO?
    I ASK THOSE QUESTIONS BECAUSE AGAIN I REPEAT IT SOUNDS AS IF THESE MEN GOT 10 BLANK PASSPORTS CAUSE THAT’S THE ONLY WAY 2 DIFFERENT INDIVIDUALS CAN COME FORWARD AND SAY WE ARE SUING BECAUSE WE NEED 3 OF THOSE PASSPORTS
    WELL WELL WELL
    GASTON REALLY FULL OF SHXX.

  8. Just another reason why this needs to be thoroughly investigated. Too many loose ends and uncertainties surrounding this entity and all it is doing is dragging the good name of Antigua and Barbuda further in the mud. This is not a political issue by any means. We really deserve to know the status of the 10 Antigua & Barbuda passports in question as this issue can likely make it more difficult for holders of Antigua & Barbuda passports going to UK, Europe and other destinations. Canada has already put the hammer on us as we now need a visa to go there. I really hope that the Government sees the urgent need for the cancellation and recall of those passports issued
    to persons associated with this venture. It is in our national interest to do so.

  9. The Nigerian employee at the Ministry of Argiculture, should be investigated too, as undoubtedly he too had a hand in the scandal.
    I am not convinced that he is in Antigua legitimately, therefore, his credentials should be throughly checked out starting from the place his birth where his birth was registered, his primary school and other institutions of learning, thereafter, as undoubtedly he is not using his real name!!

    The Governor General should resigned as he has brought his office into disrepute by supporting ALP with their affiliations with the Antigua Airways scandal.

    We the people should stage a campaign outside of his official residence, as well as writing to King Charles 3rd requesting the removal of GG from office and thereafter call for GB resignation.

    Antiguans should no longer tolerate the corruption of ALP and should therefore take affirmative actions by exercising our democratic rights by conducting peaceful demonstrations and invest in gas masks, as we should constantly remember ALP would not hesitate to gas us.

  10. No Antiguan have never fly on this aircraft that bears the name of Antigua. ANTIGUAN NEED TO TAKE THE GOVERNMENT OF ANTIGUA TO COURT.

  11. Read the UK news! Rich Nigerians harvesting a kidney from a poor man are about to go to prison. All in cahoots. Greedy and corrupt.

  12. You all don’t need to wait or beg for any inquiry! Just submit your request for all documents and correspondence relating to Antigua Airways under the Freedom of Information Act to the Prime Ministers Office. That is what it is for! Alister Thomas was the Information Officer under UPP so he knows exactly how to get it done! This is so pathetic! WAKE UP!

  13. Yes I don’t care about them suing each other. From the onset I stated that this was not a viable business, the way it was done hurriedly. So what is really alarming is the giving away of the Antiguan passports.
    This entire fiasco shows that this PM don’t care about antigua that all he cares about is self enrichment ( greed ) and power.

  14. Where are the Labourites??? What is your version on this breaking story? The sad part is that this government continues to push this fiasco as a good investment. Connecting the Caribbean to the Continent. Looks like this time Gaston bite off more than he can chew. There is a reason why Nigerians are branded as the biggest con artists in the world! Popcorn time!

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