The family of the late former Chairman of the Nigerian Exchange Group, Abimbola Ogunbanjo, who tragically lost his life in a helicopter crash in Southern California in February, has taken legal action against the US helicopter company involved. Alongside Ogunbanjo, the former Chief Executive Officer of Access Holdings, Dr Herbert Wigwe, his wife, and son were also on board the helicopter.
The lawsuit, filed by Ogunbanjo’s family, asserts that the flight should have been grounded due to dangerous weather conditions. According to the family’s attorneys, Orbic Air, the charter company, disregarded the snowy and rainy weather in the Mojave Desert, where the crash occurred on Feb. 9.
Andrew C. Robb, one of the attorneys representing Ogunbanjo’s family, emphasized the need for answers and accountability, stating that the tragedy could have been prevented. The lawsuit, filed in San Bernardino County Superior Court, alleges wrongful death and negligence against Orbic Air, its CEO, Brady Bowers, and other responsible parties.
The National Transportation Safety Board is currently investigating the crash, which witnesses described as a “fireball” during rainy and snowy conditions. The lawsuit seeks a jury trial to address burial expenses, funeral costs, and other damages incurred by Ogunbanjo’s family.
It’s worth noting that Robb & Robb, the law firm representing Ogunbanjo’s family, has a history of handling high-profile cases, including Vanessa Bryant’s lawsuit following Kobe Bryant’s fatal helicopter crash in 2020.