The Murtala Muhammed Airport Police Command has launched a manhunt for a
passenger who disappeared with N28 million ($150,000) belonging to another passenger on board Med View Airline.
The huge sum, which was kept in the luggage of the owner and was kept in the
hand luggage compartment in the upper cabin of the plane, was stolen by the passenger.
Trouble started when passengers had already boarded the 8.50am Abuja/Yol bound, waiting for clearance for take off, when the owner of the luggage discovered
that the money had disappeared.
Information gathered was that unknown to the owner of the luggage, another
passenger was said to have opened th luggage containing the money and made away with the money.
The passenger, after removing the money,
was said to have told one of the crew that he forgot his phone at the check-in counter that he should be allowed to go and pick it.
Unknown to the innocent crew, she was said to have accompanied the passenger to the counter where he sneaked away from the departure hall.
The owner of the luggage, by the time, wa said to have raised the alarm about the
disappearance of the money from his luggage.
At the point, every other passenger in the plane was subjected to a thorough check by the officials of the relevant aviation authorities led by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
All efforts made by the security to track down the dubious passenger failed as he had disappeared from the airport vicinity.
The money, according to information gathered, was said to have belonged to a
Bureau de Change operator.
As at the time of filing this report, the crew, who escorted the passenger out of the aircraft to pick up the phone he lied that he left at the counter, was immediately
arrested by the Airport Police.
It took the effort of the airline management to secure her release while the
security officers of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) on duty were
arrested and detained.
A source from the airline confirmed the development but referred newsmen to the
Airport Police saying the matter was already being investigated by the Police.
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