Lagos High Court rules in favour of IRS airlines in aircraft insurance case

IRS Airlines Limited on Thursday welcomed the judgment of the High Court of Lagos State (Commercial Division) delivered by Justice K. A. Jose, which ruled in favour of the airline in its long-standing insurance dispute with a consortium of insurance companies.

The case, Suit No. LD/3187CMW/2017, arose from the refusal of the insurers to honour a valid insurance claim relating to one of IRS Airlines’ aircraft, a Fokker 100 with registration number 5N-SIK, despite the airline having complied with the terms of the insurance policy issued by the defendants.

In its judgment delivered on 12 February 2026, the Court held that the insurers failed to justify their refusal to settle the claim and rejected the arguments advanced in their defence.

The Court further dismissed the counterclaim filed by one of the insurers seeking to invalidate the insurance contract.

The Court also awarded post-judgment interest at 6% per annum on the judgment sum until full liquidation of the debt.

Commenting on the judgment, Yemi Dada, Managing Director of IRS Airlines Limited, said:

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“This judgment represents a significant vindication of IRS Airlines’ position that the insurance claim was valid and that the refusal by the insurers to honour their contractual obligations was unjustified.

“We are pleased that the Court has carefully considered the facts and the law and has affirmed the rights of policyholders under Nigerian insurance law.”

Dada further noted that the decision reinforces the importance of good faith and contractual accountability in the aviation insurance sector, which plays a critical role in supporting safe and sustainable airline operations.

IRS Airlines reiterated its commitment to upholding the highest standards of safety, compliance, and transparency in its aviation operations.

The airline also expressed appreciation to the Court for its careful consideration of the issues presented in the case.

IRS Airlines Limited is a Nigerian aviation company engaged in aircraft operations and aviation services.

Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha

Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha is the Aviation Correspondent at BusinessDay Media Limited, publishers of BusinessDay Newspapers. She is also the Deputy Editor, BusinessDay Weekender Magazine, the Saturday Weekend edition of BusinessDay. She holds a BSC in Mass Communication from the prestigious University of Nigeria, Nsukka and a Masters degree in Marketing at the University of Lagos. As the lead writer on the aviation desk, Ifeoma is responsible and in charge of the three weekly aviation and travel pages in BusinessDay and BDSunday. She also overseas and edits all pages of BusinessDay Saturday Weekender. She has written various investigative, features and news stories in aviation and business related issues and has been severally nominated for award in the category of Aviation Writer of the Year by the Nigeria Media Nite-Out awards; one of the Nigeria’s most prestigious media awards ceremonies. Ifeoma is a one-time winner of the prestigious Nigeria Media Merit Award under the 'Aviation Writer of the Year' Category. She is the 2025 Eloy Award winner under the Print Media Journalist category. She has undergone several journalism trainings by various prestigious organisations. Ifeoma is also a fellow of the Female Reporters Leadership Fellowship of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism.