Three Air Peace passengers arraigned for unruly behavior

By Chinelo Obogo

Three Air Peace passengers, Adewale, Magnis, and Iwunze (surnames withheld), were on February 15, arraigned at the Magistrate Court of Lagos State, Ikeja Magisterial District, for unruly conduct aboard Air Peace Flight No. P4 7579 from London to Lagos. This incident, which occurred on February 12, 2025, around 8:00pm.

The defendants are accused of causing a public disturbance by shouting loudly, which led to panic among passengers and crew. This behavior is a direct violation of Section 168(1)(d) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015, which pertains to breaches of public peace. Additionally, the three passengers allegedly moved from their assigned economy class seats to the business class section without authorisation, contravening Section 4(1)(a)(b) of the FAAN Bye-Law 2005.

Upon landing at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, the airline staff reported the incident, leading to the arrest of the passengers by the airport security. The case was brought before the court under the jurisdiction of the Airport Command, with SP Oladipupo Taiwo leading the prosecution. The prosecution emphasised the importance of strict adherence to aviation laws to prevent similar incidents in the future.

During the court session, the defendants’ plea was not immediately recorded, prompting the magistrate to adjourn the case to March 3, 2025. This adjournment allows both the prosecution and defense to prepare their arguments thoroughly. If found guilty, the defendants could face penalties ranging from fines to imprisonment.