Man Arrested For Smoking Electronic Cigarette On Board London-Lagos Arik Flight

The Lagos Airport Police Command have arrested a Nigerian passenger, Lawal Oluwabusola, for smoking an electronic cigarette on board an Arik Air flight enroute Lagos from London.

In a statement on Sunday by Mr Livinus Chukwuma, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Airport Command in Lagos, said that Olubusola was arrested on Sunday upon landing in Nigeria.

He was apprehended at the international wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.

The PPRO said the suspect’s action was not in consonant with the in-flight safety procedures.

“The suspect was smoking electronic cigarette in the lavatory which triggered off emergency alarm system in the aircraft causing confusion among passengers,” he said.

NAN reports that in 1992, the International Civil Aviation Organisation had passed a resolution mandating its 152-member countries to go on smoke-free by July 1, 1996.

Chukwuma said that cigarettes smoking, or anything else that produces smoke or flame, is prohibited during flight especially in commercial aircraft.

He said that the suspect has been arraigned in court on two count charges.

According to him, the charges are in accordance with Section 2(1) of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) Bye law 2005, and Section 166(1) (d) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State.