By Chinedu Eze
A senior Customs officer and other passengers who were incensed after their flight was delayed and later merged with an evening flight allegedly destroyed Arik Air’s equipment at the airport.
It was gathered that the Customs official, identified as Mr. Olarenwaju Tajudeen had purchased an Arik Air flight ticket to Port Harcourt from Lagos for 5:00 pm, but when he was informed that there was a 3:00 pm flight to the same destination, he decided to book for the earlier flight.
Olarenwaju, a Customs Comptroller in Port Harcourt was said to have paid the modification fee of about N3000.00 as request by the airline officials at the counter, after which his flight was rescheduled for 3:00 pm.
It was learnt that the 3:00 pm flight was delayed later merged with the 5:00 pm flight, prompting the Customs official to request the refund of the amount he paid as modification fee to secure an earlier flight.
Trouble reportedly started when the airline officials refused to refund the money on the ground that the airline does not refund modification fees.
Incensed at the decision, Olarenwaju allegedly pulled the airline’s computer monitor out of its cable and smashed it on the ground after which other passengers, who were also infuriated at the airline for the flight delay, teamed up with him to destroy the system completely.
This reportedly prompted the airline officials to alert the Aviation Security (AVSEC) officials at the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), who arrested Olarenwaju and took him to Tango City, a detention facility of the agency, from where he was taken to Police Airport Command at Beesam.
The police at Beesam confirmed the arrest of the Customs official, but explained that he was granted bail on self-recognition. A police source said the case may be taken to court.
