Aero passenger arrested for stealing N350,000 on board

A passenger with Aero Contractors was yesterday arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, NAIA, Abuja, for allegedly stealing N350,000, belonging to another passenger.

The passenger, identified as Ovuironye Matthew Dennis, committed the crime on board the 6:45am flight of the airline to Abuja. The money belonged to an Austrian, Novotny Anton.
The airline in a statement confirmed the incident, stating that the suspect had been handed over to the Aviation Security, AVSEC, of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, at Abuja.
A source close to the airline, who confided in our correspondent, explained that the suspect, who was seated on 23C, was spotted by one of the cabin crew when he removed the bag belonging to a co-passenger.
The suspect was alleged to have removed N150,000 and 500 Euros belonging to the Austrian. He was, however, unlucky as a female cabin crew, who had been watching him removing the bag told him to remain seated, while he was trying to return the bag.
The cabin crew said: “While trying to return the bag, I asked him to sit down. But he became uncomfortable before the plane landed and the white man raised the alarm that he couldn’t find his bag.”
Aero, in confirming the incident said the suspect had been handed over to the police by FAAN.
“Aero can confirm arrest of a passenger on flight NG 121 from Lagos to Abuja, who was caught pilfering another passenger’s bag.
“The passenger has since been handed to the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, Abuja security office, who handed him over to the Nigeria Police,” the airline said