Celebrity Fight Aboard Aircraft Sparks NCAA Investigation
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has confirmed that social media activist Martins Otse, popularly known as Verydarkman (VDM), and comedian Freedom Atsepoyi, widely called Mr. Jollof, will face legal consequences for their physical altercation aboard an aircraft.
The incident occurred on Monday aboard an Abuja-bound flight when what began as a heated exchange between the two celebrities escalated into a full-blown physical confrontation, leaving fellow passengers shocked and frightened.
NCAA's Strong Response to Airline Brawl
Michael Achimugu, the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at NCAA, stated through his official X account that the authority is taking the matter seriously. "Both individuals will face the full strength of the law," Achimugu declared, emphasizing that there is zero tolerance for unruly behavior aboard aircraft.
The viral video capturing the scuffle shows the two men trading blows inside the packed aircraft, with cabin crew and frightened passengers rushing to intervene and separate them.
Achimugu revealed that the NCAA is currently awaiting an incident report from the airline involved. "I have asked why the airline has not forwarded an incident report, and I am told that they are presently in a management meeting. This is normal, too. Even abroad," he explained.
Comprehensive Investigation Underway
The NCAA has initiated a thorough investigation into the incident, with officers in Asaba tasked with documenting the exact actions taken by aviation security, pilots, and other personnel during the altercation.
Key questions being investigated include: how long it took security to arrive at the scene, the duration of the incident before the pilot called for security, and whether the passengers were arrested or released following the confrontation.
Achimugu clarified that while the NCAA lacks prosecutorial powers, the authority will recommend that the airline blacklist the passengers and formally request the Attorney General of the Federation and the Inspector General of Police to prosecute the unruly passengers.
"When all of these are decided, appropriate ramifications would be dished out by the relevant agencies," the NCAA director stated, indicating that consequences might extend beyond just the two passengers involved in the fight.
The director expressed particular disappointment given both individuals' roles as influencers with millions of followers, noting the irony that they had become examples of the very behavior they typically educate their audiences against.
The NCAA emphasized that it has invested significant resources in passenger education about the dangers and consequences of unruly behavior aboard aircraft, making this incident particularly concerning for aviation authorities.
