Ibom Air Passenger Makes False Claim of Baggage Loss, Earns Conviction, Fine

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Livery of Ibom Air

A passenger who flew Ibom Air flight QI0319 from Abuja to Lagos and chose to play a prank with the view to receiving monetary compensation for a false claim of a piece of lost baggage has been sued in court, and convicted with an option of a fine.

The passenger on arriving at Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal Two, MMA2, on the 20th of February 2023, duly collected his checked-in baggage yet, made a case of an allegedly missing checked-in bag knowing fully well that such loss did not happen.

When the passenger was persistent in his harassment of the airline and sounded down to earth, the ground staff in conjunction with the security department of the airport managers, conducted a painstaking view of the video footage recorded by the state-of-the-art, Close Circuit Television, CCTV, at the terminal building.

Alas, the fraudulent passenger was seen how stealthily claiming his baggage and headed straight for the toilet where he removed the airline’s baggage tag and evaded the airline’s Security Baggage Reconciliation Team.

Having satisfied himself to have closed all traces of his tracks, he went straight to the Ibom Air counter, where he raised a false alarm about his alleged missing checked baggage.

However, when it was established that there was no missing bag and that the passenger was dubious in his claim, the case was reported to the terminal’s aviation security and the police.

On the invitation for further investigation, the passenger on arrival further made a bolder face and was handed to the security agencies where a statement was requested and he did write one.

After his formal written claim of a piece of lost baggage, he was confronted with the CCTV footage of the costly drama he performed on deplaning from the aircraft to the restroom’s abracadabra he temporarily won, by successfully evading security checks but, Lo and behold, the passenger melted and confessed to the crime.

He was duly charged to court for the offense which was punishable under section 168(d) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.

The ungentle-manly passenger, therefore, pleaded guilty to the charge and showed remorse for his actions, and promised not to repeat them again. He was convicted with an option of a fine.

Succinctly put, Ibom Air is using this opportunity to assure its highly valued passengers of its continuous strive for excellence in the safety, and security of its esteemed passengers and their checked-in baggage in the airline’s care.