The Lagos Airport Police Command has arrested a Nigerian passenger, Lawal Oluwabusola, for smoking cigarette in an Arik Air flight on London to Lagos route.
In a statement on Sunday, Livinus Chukwuma, the Police Public Relations Officer , Airport Command in Lagos, said Mr. Olubusola was arrested on Sunday upon landing in Nigeria.
He was apprehended at the international wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.
The spokesperson said the suspect’s action was not in consonant with the in-flight safety procedures.
“The suspect was smoking electronic cigarette in the lavatory which triggered off emergency alarm system in the aircraft causing confusion among passengers,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that in 1992, the International Civil Aviation Organisation had passed a resolution mandating its 152-member countries to go on smoke-free by July 1, 1996.
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Mr. Chukwuma said that cigarettes smoking, or anything else that produces smoke or flame, is prohibited during flight especially in commercial aircraft. He said the suspect has been arranged in court on two count charges.
According to him, the charges are in accordance with Section 2(1) of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) Bye law 2005, and Section 166(1) (d) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State.
In a related development, the command said it had also apprehended a man for stealing $1,400 belonging to an Air France bound passenger at MMIA.
Mr. Chukwuma said the passenger was taking some rest on a couch in Gabfol lounge at MMIA waiting to board the flight and forgot her purse containing the money.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, Airport command, Frederick Lakanu, urged airport users to conform to the rules and regulations guiding the airports and aviation industry.
He said that ignorance is not an excuse.
(NAN)
