The Lagos Airport Police Command on Sunday arrested a Nigerian passenger, Lawal Oluwabusola, caught smoking cigarette in an Arik Air flight from London to Lagos.
Mr Livinus Chukwuma, the command’s spokesman, said in a statement that Olubusola was arrested at the international wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos on arrival in Nigeria.
He explained that the suspect was smoking electronic cigarette in the lavatory which triggered off emergency alarm system in the aircraft causing confusion among passengers.
Chukwuma said that Olubusola’s action contravened in-flight safety procedures which prohibit cigarettes smoking, or anything else that produces smoke or flame while on board.
Olubusola’s offence, he said, also contravene 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 and will be arraigned on the two counts.
Also, under the 1992 International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) resolution, it is mandatory for all its 152-member countries to observe smoke-free flights.