XEJet Drags SAHCO and AGHAN to Court Over Confidentiality Breach, Seeks ₦16.1 Billion Damages
XEJet Limited has instituted two separate suits against aviation stakeholders, alleging breach of contract and defamation. The airline is demanding ₦1.1 billion in damages from Skyway Aviation Handling Company Plc (SAHCO) over alleged confidentiality violations and wrongful withdrawal of ground handling services. In a parallel action, XEJet is seeking ₦15 billion against the Aviation Ground Handlers Association of Nigeria (AGHAN) for alleged false publications circulated in the media.
The SAHCO case, filed before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, is marked FCT/HC/CV/4506/2026. Filed through counsel Alex Izinyon II, ESQ, the suit raises seven questions for determination and seeks 11 reliefs. XEJet contends that information concerning its commercial account was protected under its Standard Ground Handling Agreement with SAHCO.
According to the airline’s originating process, Paragraph 13.1 of the agreement requires information exchanged between the parties in providing services to remain confidential. XEJet argues that this includes invoices, statements of account, amounts paid or outstanding, payment history, communications and payment proposals.
The airline is asking the court to determine whether SAHCO breached that obligation by allegedly disclosing account information to AGHAN, whose statement of September 28, 2026, was subsequently published by the media. XEJet also wants the court to determine whether any liability exclusion in Paragraph 4.2 applies where an alleged confidentiality breach involved negligence or wilful misconduct.
In an affidavit supporting the originating summons, XEJet Group Chief Executive Officer Emmanuel Ayuba Iza described the events surrounding the dispute. He said SAHCO requested payment of outstanding invoices by September 10, followed by discussions and reconciliation of the account.
“Upon receipt of the said letter, the Claimant engaged the Defendant in negotiation and in a joint reconciliation of the account, to verify the sums actually owed, invoice by invoice,” Iza stated.
He said SAHCO subsequently issued another letter on September 23 requesting settlement within three working days and stating that services would be suspended without payment or a satisfactory payment arrangement.
However, XEJet alleges that SAHCO withdrew ground handling services at all its Nigerian airport locations from about 8:00 a.m. on September 28, before the stated period had expired. The airline said it simultaneously made two payments totalling ₦7 million toward the outstanding account.
The agreement covered ground handling services at Abuja, Lagos, Benin, Asaba and Warri airports. These included passenger and baggage handling, aircraft marshalling, loading and unloading, towing, push-back and load control.
In a separate suit, XEJet sued the Incorporated Trustees of AGHAN over alleged false information released to the media and the general public. The airline is seeking ₦15 billion in general, aggravated and exemplary damages.
XEJet said SAHCO was an AGHAN member but maintained that it owed no money to any other association member. The airline further stated that discussions with SAHCO were continuing when the disputed publications appeared.
“The Claimant and SAHCO were in discussion when the publications complained of in the media were made,” the airline said in its Statement of Claim.
XEJet also said no payment plan had been concluded with SAHCO or AGHAN, although it had proposed terms and commenced payments.
The airline stated that it ultimately paid SAHCO ₦215,898,420.25 between September 28 and 29, 2026, describing the amount as full settlement of the account.
XEJet further alleged that AGHAN’s president and vice president issued a joint statement on September 28 and released it to the press, knowing it would be republished by national newspapers and online media.
The confidentiality breach proceedings will determine the competing claims and the contractual obligations of the parties. The allegations contained in XEJet’s suits remain claims before the court unless and until determined through the judicial process.
