The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has announced that social media personalities Martins Otse, popularly known as Verydarkman, and comedian Freedom Atsepoyi, known as Mr Jollof, will face penalties following a physical altercation aboard an Asaba–Lagos flight on Monday.
In a post shared on X, the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at NCAA described the incident as “unacceptable behaviour” and highlighted the danger it posed to both passengers and crew.
“There is no tolerance for unruly behaviour aboard an aircraft. Both individuals will face the full strength of the law,” the spokesperson tweeted.
He also stressed the influencers’ responsibility, saying, “It is even more shameful when one considers both of them partners in educating their millions of followers to avoid unruly behaviour.”
The spokesperson added that the airline was expected to report the incident to the NCAA, which would then pursue legal action. “The actions of both men put the safety of all other passengers and the crew at risk. It also put the safety of the aircraft at risk.”
He further underscored the regulator’s ongoing efforts to educate passengers on safety, stating, “The NCAA has exerted a lot of energy and resources in educating passengers about the dangers of unruly behaviour and its consequences. In this case, no matter what led to the fracas, there is no excuse that makes it acceptable.”
Reports indicate the fight stemmed from a pre-existing online feud between the two men, escalating into a confrontation inside the aircraft cabin, which required intervention from passengers and crew.
VDM later shared a video on his Facebook page, claiming he confronted Mr Jollof during the incident. His post reads, “I don chop Jollof father for inside the plane. He bite me, man wey de bite.”
The NCAA spokesperson noted that the authority is still awaiting full details from the airline and its staff but assured that a complete statement would be issued once the information is verified.
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