An international lawyer, Emmanuel Ogebe, and 38 other passengers of Ibom Air have petitioned the minister of aviation and aerospace development, Festus Keyamo, seeking investigation over a flight delay and alleged hijack of aircraft to fly a so-called VIP.

The passengers, in the petition made available to TheNiche on Saturday, said the Ibom Air airplane they were to board from Lagos to Abuja was for 3pm but it was delayed for over five hours.

They called on Keyamo to probe the incident, sanction the airline appropriately and compensate customers.

“We write as multinational passengers who were stranded at Lagos airport by Ibom Air on the 3pm flight Q1554 to Abuja which was delayed for over five hours allegedly because one dignitary commandeered the aircraft for personal travel to a different destination,” the petition read.

“Accordingly we are petitioning you to:
INVESTIGATE: As experienced travelers from different continents and countries, we’re fully conversant with “VIP movement” delays which is when a top official’s plane’s flight requires stoppage of all others for security reasons. However the seizure of a commercial passenger aircraft for private use of an individual thereby stranding hapless passengers is a new low in systems abuse in Nigeria and must be investigated by your office with immediacy.

“COMPENSATE (REFUND EXTRA CHARGES) Amongst us were some very pathetic cases to name but a few: A passenger who was denied boarding at 10:25am for the 11am flight – allegedly for lateness – who was rebooked on the 3pm flight and charged N30,000 then delayed till 8pm! From her arrival at the airport till arrival in Abuja was over 11hours – equal to flying from Lagos to New York.

“A passenger who was on the 6pm flight but charged N25000 to fly earlier on the 3pm flight only for his original 6pm flight to depart before the 3pm flight.

“Passengers who paid extra for these changes need to be compensated more in addition to general compensation for all others due to their peculiar aggravated circumstances.