The family of the late Abimbola Ogunbanjo, a former Chairman of the Nigerian Exchange Group, has filed a lawsuit against a U.S. helicopter company following a fatal crash in Southern California in February. The crash claimed the lives of Ogunbanjo, his wife, and his son, as well as former Access Holdings CEO Dr. Herbert Wigwe and his family.
The Ogunbanjo family’s lawsuit alleges that the charter company, Orbic Air, negligently operated the helicopter in unsafe weather conditions. The crash occurred in the Mojave Desert amid a wintry mix of snow and rain on February 9.
Attorney Andrew C. Robb, representing the Ogunbanjo family, expressed that the flight should not have taken place due to the inclement weather and is calling for answers and accountability.
The family is suing Orbic Air and its CEO, Brady Bowers, for wrongful death and negligence in San Bernardino County Superior Court. The lawsuit also includes the estates of the helicopter’s pilot and co-pilot.
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash. A preliminary report released by the agency in February detailed the helicopter’s flight path and wreckage. Witnesses described seeing a “fireball” amid the poor weather conditions during the crash.
The Ogunbanjo family seeks a jury trial to cover burial and funeral expenses, as well as other damages. The law firm representing the family, Robb & Robb, previously handled Vanessa Bryant’s lawsuit following Kobe Bryant’s fatal helicopter crash in 2020.
