Police Arraign Three Air Peace Passengers for Disruptive Behaviour, Court Adjourns Case to March 3
The Magistrate Court of Lagos State, Ikeja Magisterial District, witnessed legal proceedings on Friday, 15 February 2025, as three passengers of Air Peace Flight No. P4 7579 from London to Lagos were arraigned for unruly behaviour and unauthorised seat change.
The defendants – Adewale Adedigba (52), Magnis Ashibuogwu (50), and Iwunze Benjamin (30) – were charged with causing public disturbance and violating aviation regulations following an incident on board the flight on Monday, 12 February, at approximately 8:00 PM.
According to the police, the passengers engaged in disorderly conduct by shouting at the top of their voices, thereby inciting panic among fellow travellers and crew members.
Their actions were deemed a breach of public peace, contravening Section 168(1)(d) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.
Further reports indicate that the three individuals left their designated economy class seats and occupied seats in the business class section without authorisation, an act that contravened Section 4(1)(a)(b) of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) Bye-Law 2005.
Air Peace crew promptly reported the misconduct upon arrival at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, leading to their arrest by airport police.
The prosecution, led by Superintendent of Police (SP) Oladipupo Taiwo, stressed the importance of upholding aviation laws, urging the court to send a strong deterrent message against similar violations in the future.
During the court hearing, the defendants’ plea was not immediately recorded, prompting the magistrate to adjourn the case to 3 March 2025 for further proceedings.
The delay allows both prosecution and defence teams to prepare their submissions, with possible penalties including fines or imprisonment if the accused are found guilty.
Legal and aviation industry experts have reiterated the need for stricter enforcement of in-flight conduct regulations in Nigeria’s air travel sector.
This case serves as a critical test for aviation law enforcement, with its outcome expected to set a precedent for future cases of disruptive behaviour aboard flights in Nigeria.
