Originally Posted by cheriah

This is my opinion...like it or lump it!

So you think it is ok for someone to lead a protest on an aircraft of all places, post 9-11 and to be able to get away scot free?

What Mr.Omotade did was wrong and i feel that the Nigerians intent on protesting the BA are only succeeding in making us look like a bigger group of ignoramuses than we are thought to be already.

A court executed deportation order was taking place. The Deportee obviously refused to leave the country with a bit of dignity and chose to make a scene, screaming ‘I go die’, which means, ‘I will die!’ as in ‘I will die if I am taken back to Nigeria!’

Mr Omotade aka Mr Over-Sabi, bigged up his chest and went to go and face the immigration officials…note: immigration officials as BA staff would not have been handling the Deportee. Did he really think that he could stop such an order? Things got out of hand with Mr Over-Sabi getting his fellow passengers riled up and so the immigration officials left and reported him to the police. Police come to get their man and apparently he refuses to go quietly. Several more passengers get involved.

International flight rules are very clear and followed to a T by those in the aviation industry. There is a zero tolerance when it comes to assaults on airline staff and assaults are not only defined as physical. Raising your voice or issuing threats against an airline official is also deemed to be an assault. Had this taken place in the US Mr Over-Sabi would have probably been tasered and sent down for at least a year!

After the Police leave with Mr.Over-Sabi, the Pilot feels that it would be wise for those individuals who got involved in the arrest to be removed so that they can calm down. Apparently if the ruckus starts up again in mid-flight then it is possible that the Pilot ( i hear that he is a Nigerian) could lose his license. None of the BA staff (some Nigerians)are sure who exactly took part and so the Pilot makes the decision to clear the economy flight (not all are Nigerians). The plane finally jets of with first and business class passengers (Nigerians) and the deportee with his escorts.

Now the long and short end of it is that if Mr Over-Sabi had sat his a$$ down in his seat and endured the noise he would have made it to his brother’s wedding on time. Instead he is playing victim when he is really brought this all on himself.

BA is not the only airline in the world that transfers Deportees and they so happen to be legally obligated by UK law to do so. It is not their fault if a Deportee decides to make a scene. What did Mr Over-Sabi want them to do? Sedate the Deportee, gag him and put a bag over his head like the Spanish did to one who choked to death on the Spanish flight a year or so ago? If Mr Over-Sabi had wanted peace and quiet on his flight then he should have forked out for first class. Simple!

Notice how he doesn’t mention anything about the state of the Deportee over than the fact that he was making noise on the plane. And people are still making out like he is an upstanding citizen who stopped his fellow Nigerian from being pummelled to death, when really if that were the case I am sure he would mentioned it in his transcript . . . if only to gain even more sympathy for himself. If he had really been concerned about the Deportee then he should have offered the chap assistance once they reached Nigeria instead of doing over-sabi a the plane of all places!

Originally Posted by Aust_nne

Am sorry Cheriah, if I see anyone maltreating someone, I have every right to interrupt and plead with them to not "kill" him or her especially when I would be flying on the same flight with this traumatized or potentially dangerous deportee without the immigration people around.

You know a Nigerian was gagged and killed while deporting him from Spain and no man deserves the right to be treated that way. In a western world where one can be charged for cruelty to animals....such cruelty to another human being is totally unacceptable....you think they'd do that same thing to an American?

This situation is only a reflection of the level of disrespect that BA has for Nigerians and its been ongoing…the only difference here is that someone has decided to speak up…and No, its got nothing to do with zero level of tolerance.

...and the biggest shame is that at the end of the day, Nigerians are only left with matters in their hands with online protests and its like...We cannot rely on our government to give a louder voice in times like this.

Originally Posted by Sola

Where you on the flight, Cheriah? Or is there a source for your version of the story?

Originally Posted by cheriah

Oh yes

I will not be signing a petition and I will continue to use BA to Nigeria as long as they continue to operate on those routes.

Many innocent Nigerians have died at the hands of the Nigerian aviation authority which is considers Nigerian life cheap. They constantly allow planes that have been condemned by other countries to operate in our airspace and this has resulted in the deaths of thousands of innocent Nigerians. One of the most horrific one that comes to mind is the plane that was carrying school children which killed all on board.

Wouldn't it be great if a protest against the Nigerian aviation authority was initiated before any protest against BA because of Mr Over-Sabi?

Originally Posted by bluestocking

Thousands ke? No life is cheap but abeg take am easy with the exaggeration.