Social media activist Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, and comedian Freedom Atsepoyi, aka Mr Jollof, may face criminal prosecution following a physical altercation aboard a United Nigeria Airlines flight on Monday.
The incident occurred on an Asaba-Lagos flight, where a disagreement between the two quickly escalated into a fight, prompting crew members and passengers to intervene. A viral video showed both parties exchanging blows, with VeryDarkMan later claiming on social media that he “chopped Jollof father for inside the plane.”
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) condemned the behavior, calling it a violation of aviation safety rules and warning that the duo would face legal sanctions. Michael Achimugu, Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the NCAA, stressed that the actions endangered both passengers and crew, adding that there is “no tolerance for unruly behaviour aboard an aircraft,” particularly from influencers who preach responsible conduct to millions of followers.
Under Nigeria’s Civil Aviation Act 2022, acts of violence on an aircraft can attract fines of up to N2 million, imprisonment of up to five years, or both. Interference with crew members carries additional penalties, including fines or jail terms.
United Nigeria Airlines confirmed that the pair were immediately deboarded and handed over to airport security. The airline reaffirmed its zero-tolerance policy for any actions that compromise passenger or crew safety and assured travelers that Flight UN0523 departed safely after standard procedures were completed.
The altercation is believed to be linked to ongoing online hostilities between the two personalities. Aviation stakeholders have expressed concern over the growing incidents of unruly passenger behavior in recent months, calling for decisive action to prevent recurrence.