NCAA Probes VDM and Mr Jollof’s In-Flight Fight, Jail Term Possible
Social media activist Martins Otse, better known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), and comedian Freedom Atsepoyi, aka Mr Jollof, may be prosecuted after a physical clash aboard a United Nigeria Airlines flight.
The fight erupted on a Monday Asaba-to-Lagos flight, where an argument quickly turned violent.
Video footage circulating online shows crew members and fellow passengers rushing in to separate the two men as blows were exchanged.
In a Facebook video, VDM claims he hit Mr Jollof, saying, “I don chop Jollof father for inside the plane. He bite me, man, wey de bite,” suggesting he responded in kind during the brawl.
The cause of the confrontation is still unclear. But the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has condemned their behaviour.
In a post on X, NCAA’s Michael Achimugu, Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, said both individuals violated aviation safety regulations.
He warned that legal sanctions would follow.
“There is no tolerance for unruly behaviour aboard an aircraft. Both individuals will face the full strength of the law,” he wrote.
He also criticised them for their hypocrisy, noting that they “often preach responsible conduct to millions of followers.”
According to him, United Nigeria Airlines has formally reported the incident to the NCAA. Legal and regulatory action is now expected.
He added that their actions endangered not only fellow passengers and crew, but also the aircraft itself.
The NCAA spokesperson emphasised that the regulator has worked hard to educate passengers on the dangers and consequences of disorderly conduct.
He said this incident is inexcusable, no matter the provocation.
Under the Nigerian Civil Aviation Act, 2022, violence on board aircraft can carry a minimum penalty of N2 million or up to five years’ prison, or both.
Another section of the law penalises interference with crew duties, with fines and jail terms possible.
While the NCAA investigates, VDM and Mr Jollof could either pay a hefty fine or face jail time.
United Nigeria Airlines confirmed the incident in a statement on its X page.
The airline said its crew acted swiftly to de-escalate. Both men were removed from the plane at Asaba International Airport and handed over to security.
However, the flight later departed safely.
The carrier reiterated its “zero-tolerance” policy toward behaviour that threatens passenger or crew safety.
It said it remains committed to maintaining a secure and respectful travel environment.
The quarrel appears to be an extension of a weeks-long feud online between the two. Unruly behaviour on flights has become a growing concern in Nigeria’s aviation sector in recent months.
In a related development, similar incidents have been reported: in August 2025, Fuji star KWAM 1 was involved in a scuffle during boarding for a ValueJet flight.
And around the same time, a young lady, Comfort Emmanson was removed from an Ibom Air flight after refusing to comply with crew instructions and physically confronting staff.