For Fighting in Aeroplane, Two Nigerians Sentenced

By Yai Dibba & Abdoulie Nyockeh

Two Nigerian brothers were on Thursday fined $5000 for fighting in an aircraft; an act that has a potential of endangering safety and order in the craft.

Duru Humphrey Emeka and Tariah Greg have pleaded guilty to a charge of engaging in a brawl in an airplane thereby violating section 64, sub-section 3 (a) of the civil aviation act of 2004.

The fight broke out when the duo was travelling from Holland to The Gambia. They were alternatively sentenced to spend three years in jail.

Before the sentences were handed down, the brothers informed the court that they have already written a letter of apology to Arky Airlines, which banned them from travelling in that airline for a year. They therefore begged the magistrate to show grace and forgive them.

But according to magistrate Edrisa Mbai, the offence committed by the two was punishable by a fine not exceeding $10,000 as well as a jail term not exceeding five years or both.