The Management of Arik Airline has suspended one of its Staff over an alleged extortion of a passenger at the domestic wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos State.
Recall that the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) arrested the staff after a video clip went viral on social media.
The management of the airline however said it has suspended the erring staff with immediate effect pending the outcome of an internal investigation on the matter.
This much was contained in a statement by the Spokesman for the airline, Mr Adebanjo Ola, and obtained by NATIONAL TELESCOPE on Wednesday, November 11, 2021.
The statement reads: “The management of Arik Air (in Receivership) has suspended with immediate effect one of its staff caught by the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) for soliciting bribe at the domestic wing of the Murtala Mohammed International, Ikeja, Lagos, pending further investigations.
“While the management conducts its own internal
investigation, we wish to reassure FAAN of our
cooperation on this matter if further investigation is required. We fully support what FAAN is doing to rid our airports of this menace of corruption.”
Recalled that FAAN had on Tuesday night announced the arrest of a female staff of Arik Air for extortion of air travellers at the Lagos Airport.
FAAN in a statement by Mrs Henrietta Yakubu, it’s
General Manager, Corporate Communications said
the arrest followed an emergency meeting involving its Managing Director, Capt. Rabiu Yadudu on the
incessant extortion of passengers by airport officials at the nation’s airports.
According to the statement, FAAN was taking steps to address the situation, which had soiled the name of its Managing Director, Capt. Rabiu Yadudu on the incessant extortion of passengers by airport officials at the nation’s airports.
The statement said, FAAN was taking steps to
address the situation, which had soiled the name of
the country in the international community.
It also said a meeting involving Dr Jumoke Oduwole, Special Adviser to the President on Ease of Doing Business, Airport Managers and Airport Chiefs of Security was held on the matter.
Adding that, the meeting resolved that henceforth, any erring airport official caught soliciting for bribes at the nation’s airports would be permanently denied access to working at
the airports, while officials were also directed to
always wear conspicuous name tags anytime they
are on duty.
It said the On-Duty-Card of the erring staff had been withdrawn immediately, while she was handed over to the relevarnt security agency for appropriate action in order to serve as a deterrent to other bad eggs in the airport.
It said the On-Duty-Card of the erring staff had been withdrawn immediately, while she was handed over to the relevant security agency for appropriate action in order to serve as a deterrent to other bad eggs in the airport, the statement added.
“Recent embarrassing online videos where
passengers complained of acts of extortion at the
nation’s airport had necessitated the need to devise
multi-level strategies to curb the menace.
“Yadudu further directed the Airport Managers to
ensure that all stakeholders at the airports are
properly sensitised on the new development as there will be no sacred cows.” FAAN added
