Drama as passenger steals N200,000 aboard flight

THERE was a mild drama on an Arik Air flight from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, heading to the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, on Wednesday, when a passenger (name withheld), stole N200,000 belonging to another passenger on the business class.

 According to information gathered, the passenger stood up in the aircraft and opened the overhead cabin as if he was searching for missing items in his luggage, but picked the N200,000 that another passenger kept in the bag. He was, however, sighted by other passengers while attempting to keep the stolen money in his own luggage. 

 The crew immediately intervened by confronting the male suspect, who was said to have occupied seat 3C on the aircraft with flight number W3 162 ABV- LOS. On landing at the Lagos airport, the suspect was handed over to security officials of Arik Air, who subsquently handed him over to aviation security personnel attached to the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), who in turn transfered the passenger with the exhibit to the domestic wing police station of the airport for further investigation and possible prosecution. 

 An official of FAAN, who confirmed the development, said that the authorities were briefed about the incident, but added that the matter was being handled by the police. A staff of Arik Air also confirmed the incident to the Nigerian Tribune on phone. However, the divisional police officer at the domestic wing station said she was yet to be briefed, though that the development could have been reported to the station.

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Millionaire's daughter accused of electrical thefts during riot claims she was forced to take part

A millionaire's daughter stood in the dock yesterday as a jury heard how she took part in a two-hour crime spree on the worst night of last summer’s riots.

Laura Johnson, 20, ‘exercised extraordinarily bad judgment’ when she got ‘swept up’ in looting electrical goods, alcohol and cigarettes, a court was told.

The former grammar school pupil is accused of driving a getaway car for three male accomplices, who went on the rampage in London.

The Exeter University student claims she was forced to drive the car under duress by three young black men who were not the ‘sort of people you say no to’.

But a jury at Inner London Crown Court yesterday heard that she had acted entirely of her own free will, engaging in a ‘joint enterprise’ to take ‘goods and their thieves from place to place’.

Sandy Canavan, prosecuting, said: ‘She knew what she was doing. This is a young lady who exercised extraordinarily bad judgment on that night.

‘Hers were hardly the actions of somebody who was forced to drive around too scared and frightened and afraid to do anything other than that they are told.

‘The prosecution say that duress is no more than a red herring in this case.’

Dressed in a white blouse, black mini skirt and boots, Johnson spoke yesterday only to confirm her name as she stood in the dock with her co-accused, a 17-year-old man who cannot be named for legal reasons.

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Thieves Raided Benin Hospital to Steal Babies For Rituals

Some thieves yesterday morning reportedly invaded the maternity wards of the central hospital in Benin, the capital of Edo State, attempting to steal newly born babies.

Many of the patients of the hospital, who confirmed the incident to our correspondent, appealed to the state government to provide adequate security in the hospital. One Mr. Bernard Isokponba said his wife who gave birth on Monday told him that the thieves stormed the female ward of the hospital in the midnight looking for placenta and babies.

Some of the staff of the hospital, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the thieves could be agents of some politicians who have always used placenta, fetus and newly born babies for rituals. 

The secretary of the hospital management committee, Isaac Isain, confirmed the incident, but denied that the invaders targeted newly born babies. “Thieves invaded the hospital and stole some handsets and cash from patients on admission. 

Some suspects have been arrested and are now at the Adesuwa police station. This is not the first time thieves will enter the hospital”. He however said the management of the hospital had put measures in place to ensure adequate security in the hospital.

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