Three Air Peace passengers who disrupted the airline’s flight on February 12 were at the weekend arraigned at the Magistrate Court of Lagos State, Ikeja Magisterial District.
The passengers—Adewale Adedigba (52), Magnis Ashibuogwu (50), and Iwunze Benjamin (30)—were arraigned for bad conduct aboard Air Peace Flight No. P4 7579 from London to Lagos.
According to the police, the defendants disrupted the flight by shouting at the top of their voices, causing panic and public disturbance among passengers and crew.
Their actions were deemed a breach of public peace under Section 168(1)(d) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.
Further allegations reveal that the trio moved from their economy class seats to the business class without authorisation. This conduct was upon landing at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja.
Following their arrest by airport police, the passengers were charged before the court. The prosecution, led by Superintendent of Police Oladipupo Taiwo, pressed for adherence to aviation laws to deter similar incidents in the future.
During the court session, the defendants’ plea was not recorded immediately, leading the magistrate to adjourn the case to March 3, for hearing.
The delay allows both the prosecution and defense to prepare their arguments, with potential penalties including fines or imprisonment if the defendants are found guilty.
This case underscores the growing need for stricter enforcement of in-flight conduct regulations in Nigeria’s aviation sector. Industry experts have called for heightened awareness and compliance to ensure the safety and comfort of all passengers.
The upcoming hearing will determine the fate of the accused and set a precedent for future cases involving disruptive behavior on flights.
Credit: thenationonlineng.net
