Social media activist, Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, and comedian Freedom Atsepoyi, aka Mr Jollof, are facing possible criminal prosecution after a confrontation aboard a United Nigeria Airlines flight on Monday.
What began as a heated argument between the pair on the Asaba–Lagos flight quickly escalated into a physical fight, causing commotion in the cabin.
In a viral video sighted by The PUNCH, crew members and passengers rushed in to separate the feuding influencers as blows were exchanged.
VeryDarkMan later confirmed the clash in a video shared on his Facebook page, bragging that he had overpowered Mr Jollof during the scuffle.
His post read, “I don chop Jollof father for inside the plane. He bite me, man, wey de bite,” as he insisted he confronted the comedian.
Although the cause of the dispute remains unclear, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority condemned their conduct, describing it as a breach of aviation safety standards.
In an X post, the NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, said their actions violated air travel regulations.
“There is no tolerance for unruly behaviour aboard an aircraft. Both individuals will face the full strength of the law,” he wrote, adding that it was “even more shameful” given their influence over millions of followers.
He stressed that the airline was expected to submit a formal report, after which regulatory and legal steps would follow.
Achimugu said, “The actions of both men put the safety of all other passengers and the crew at risk. It also put the safety of the aircraft at risk.”
He noted that the aviation body has invested heavily in educating passengers on the dangers of unruly behaviour, saying, “The NCAA has exerted a lot of energy and resources in educating passengers about the dangers of unruly behaviour and its consequences. In this case, no matter what led to the fracas, there is no excuse that makes it acceptable.”
Further checks by The PUNCH revealed that Nigeria’s Civil Aviation Act 2022 criminalises such conduct. Section 84 prescribes a fine of at least N2m or up to five years’ imprisonment for violent acts onboard that endanger an aircraft. Section 85 states that interfering with a crew member’s duties attracts a penalty of up to N200,000 or at least two months in jail.
As the NCAA continues its assessment, both VDM and Mr Jollof risk paying fines or facing imprisonment.
United Nigeria Airlines confirmed in a statement on its X handle that its crew acted swiftly by deboarding the duo and handing them over to airport security.
The statement read, “United Nigeria Airlines confirms that an altercation occurred between two passengers, identified as Martins Vincent Otse ‘VeryDarkman’ and Freedom Okpetoritse Atsepoyi ‘Mr. Jollof’, during the boarding of Flight UN0523 at Asaba International Airport on the morning of 17 November 2025.”
According to the airline, the crew intervened in line with global safety procedures, adding that both men were removed from the flight to protect other travellers.
After completing necessary protocols, the flight proceeded without them.
Reaffirming its strict safety culture, the airline said it maintains zero tolerance for conduct that threatens passengers or crew.
“After all standard procedures were completed, the flight departed safely while the passengers involved in the altercation were still with the authorities,” the carrier stated.
The dispute is believed to be a continuation of a long-running online feud between the two influencers.
The sector has seen a rise in unruly behaviour in recent months. In August, Fuji icon, King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal (KWAM 1) was involved in an altercation during the boarding of a ValueJet flight, while a woman, Ms Comfort Emmanson, was removed from an Ibom Air flight after refusing to switch off her phone and allegedly attacking a flight attendant.
These repeated incidents have raised concerns among passengers and aviation stakeholders calling for stricter enforcement to deter future occurrences.
