Shareholders of Arik Air Limited have raised concerns over the reported dismantling of a Boeing 737-700 aircraft at the domestic terminal of the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos.
The shareholders are asking the airline’s Receiver Manager, Oluseye Opasanya, to explain why the aircraft is being dismantled and provide details about its ownership, registration and legal status.
In a letter dated August 17, 2026, and signed by major shareholder Johnson Arumemi-Ikhide, the stakeholders said they noticed what appeared to be an ongoing dismantling exercise involving an Arik aircraft at the airport.
They requested clarification on the identity of the aircraft, who owns it, whether it is being used as security for any debt and the legal authority behind the decision to dismantle it.
The shareholders also questioned whether the aircraft or some of its components were connected to an alleged debt involving Arik Air and Access Bank.
The dispute is linked to the wider financial problems surrounding Arik Air, whose assets have been under receivership by the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON).
According to the shareholders, the Receiver Manager had previously referred to an alleged debt owed to Access Bank in a letter dated October 22, 2024. That correspondence reportedly mentioned security interests over some Arik aircraft and engines.
The shareholders said they later requested documents supporting the claim but had not received what they considered satisfactory evidence.
They are now demanding that the Receiver Manager provide the aircraft’s registration number, ownership documents, security status and the legal basis for dismantling it.
The shareholders said the development was particularly concerning because they had previously informed the Receiver Manager that issues surrounding the alleged debt were also connected to a criminal investigation by a government law enforcement agency.
They stressed that their request should not be interpreted as approval for the sale, transfer, dismantling or disposal of any Arik Air asset.
The latest controversy is not the first time an Arik aircraft has faced dismantling proceedings.
In November 2024, the Federal High Court in Lagos authorised parties linked to Export Development Canada to take custody and control of a CRJ1000 aircraft with registration number 5N-JEE, which had previously been operated by Arik Air. The court order also permitted the aircraft to be dismantled.
The latest incident has therefore renewed questions about how Arik Air’s assets are being managed while the airline remains under receivership.
The shareholders are seeking greater transparency over the handling of the airline’s aircraft and other valuable assets, particularly amid ongoing disagreements over debts and ownership rights.
Efforts to obtain a response from AMCON’s publicist, Jude Nwauzor, were unsuccessful. Calls and text messages sent to him had not received a response as of press time.
A WhatsApp message was also sent to the AMCON spokesperson, but no response was received.
The shareholders’ demands are expected to keep attention focused on the management and preservation of Arik Air’s assets as the disputes surrounding the airline continue.
