The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority has said that social media influencers Martins Otse, popularly known as Verydarkman, and comedian Freedom Atsepoyi, known as Mr Jollof, will face sanctions following a physical fight aboard an Asaba-Lagos flight on Monday.
In a post shared on X, the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at NCAA described the altercation as “unacceptable behaviour” and emphasised the danger it posed to passengers and crew.
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“There is no tolerance for unruly behaviour aboard an aircraft. Both individuals will face the full strength of the law,” the spokesperson tweeted.
He highlighted the responsibility of the influencers, saying, “It is even more shameful when one considers both of them partners in educating their millions of followers to avoid unruly behaviour.”
The spokesperson noted that the airline should report the incident to the NCAA and legal action would follow, adding, “The actions of both men put the safety of all other passengers and the crew at risk. It also put the safety of the aircraft at risk.”
He further stressed the regulator’s commitment to passenger education, stating, “The NCAA has exerted a lot of energy and resources in educating passengers about the dangers of unruly behaviour and its consequences.
“In this case, no matter what led to the fracas, there is no excuse that makes it acceptable.”
The incident reportedly began as an ongoing online feud between the two men, escalating into a full-blown fight inside the aircraft cabin. Passengers and crew intervened as chaos erupted on board.
VDM later posted a video on his Facebook page, claiming he had confronted Mr Jollof during the altercation.
His post reads, “I don chop Jollof father for inside the plane. He bite me, man wey de bite.”
The NCAA spokesperson said he was still awaiting details from the airline and staff but assured that a full statement would follow once the information was verified.