Oyetunji Abioye

Punch

Facts emerged on wednesday that British Airways prevented the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Dimeji Bankole and his personal Assistanyt, Mr Emmanuel Adgoke, from boarding a flight to London last Friday.
Our crrespondent learnt that bankole and his aide were at the BA boarding gate at Murtala Muhammed International Airport , Ikeja,Lagos when BA security officials aske to search the Speaker's luggage for screening. the speaker was said to have prevented Adegoke from handing over yhe luggage and they subsequently returned to the terminal building and left the airport.
The speaker has, however, reacted to the development, saying he and his aide left the aiport to avoid causing a scene.
It was learnt that the BA Station Manager, identified as Mr. Axvies Ekwem, denied the speaker and his aide entry into the aircraft at about 22.45pm. during the secondary screening of intending passengers to UK.
It was alleged that the speaker had earlier breached a step in the primary screening process carried out by officials of the Federal Airport, Authority of Nigeria. he was alleged to have refused to allow security officials to conduct a pat-down screening on him.
A source said, "After passing through the metal detector machine, the speaker refused FAAN security official called 'AVSEC Aliu' from carrying out the screening on him."
The Federal Federal Government, through the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, had ordered 100 percent screening, including pat downs on all outbound passengers. The 100 per centscreening order followed an alleged attempt by a Nigerian, Farouk AbdulMutallab, to bomb a United States airliner over Detroit, Michigan, United states.
Bankole eventually travelled the following day (Saturday) to London aboard a Virgin Atlantic flight. Airport officials, who declined to be named, said the speaker was properlly screened before boarding the flight.
Contacted for comments, BA said in an email, "Due to the Data Protection Act, we are unable to comment on individual customers,aircraft and staff is always our top priority."
But background information obtained on the incident reads, "On August 6, the speaker of the Nigerian House of Representatives, Mr. Bankole dimeji, and his PA, Adegoke Emmanuel, were offloaded prior to boarding BA074 at Lagos Airport.
"They refused to surrender their four pieces of hand luggage to BA security for hand search. The airline's duty manager explained to the speaker that this was a mandatory security check; he still refused and tried to force his way into the aircraft. He was immediately offloaded. Airline and other airpot duty officials including the Captain and London security duty manager were informed. Some customers witnessed the incident."
A statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Idowu Bakare, titled, Why Bankole disembarked from BA flight," reads, "For the record,the British Government exempts securitysearches on Presidents, Vice-presidents and Speakers of national parliaments among other VIPs and British Airways is the national carrier of Britain.
"On Friday night, after all security checks on the speaker's aide that accompanied him, BA's local officials had demanded that the hand luggage of the speaker must be searched, against the rules of British Government and British Aviation Authority (BAA). To avoid ny scene the Speaker cancelled his trip and disembarked from the flight.



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Why Bankole Disembarked from BA Flight’By Sunday Okobi, 08.12.2010

Fct

In response to inquiries from the media on why the Speaker of the House of Rep, Rt Hon. Dimeji Bankole disembarked from British Airway flight to London last week Friday, his Chief Press Secretary, Idowu Bakare has clear the air saying that the Airway line violated the rules of British Government and British Aviation Authority (BAA) when the security officials insisted that the hand luggage of the Speaker must be searched, and in avoidance of any embarrassing scene, Bankole has to disembark from the flight.
“For the record, British Government exempt security searches on Presidents, Vice Presidents and Speakers of the National Parliaments among other VIPs and British Airways is the national carrier of Britain.
“On Friday night after all security checks on the Speaker’s aide that accompanied him, the BA’s local officials had demanded that the hand luggage of the Speaker must be searched against the rules of British Government and British Aviation Authority (BAA). To avoid any scene the Speaker cancelled his trip and disembarked from the flight,” Bakare stated.
In a statement made available to THISDAY yesterday, he disclosed that, “when the Speaker travelled to London through another airline the next day, his hand luggage was not searched and on his return trip through BA, his hand luggage was equally not searched based on the exemption which have been confirmed from BAA Office in London.
“We are at a loss at the attitude of BA local officials wondering if it has to do with alleged refusal of Speaker’s aide to ‘tip’ the BA officials who ordinarily should be conversant with the rules of their organization,” he expressed.
However, Bakare has said the ugly incident has been reported to relevant aviation and security agencies for investigation.

_http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=180509

Lets see which airline will board Bank-ole without the necessary security checks. I can imagine him asking ''do you know who I am''? Buffoon.
Is he not the 'number 4'' man in Nigeria? He should travel in ''official flights'' if he does not want to be subjected to what every other person is subjected to

Nchara:

Lets see which airline will board Bank-ole without the necessary security checks. I can imagine him asking ''do you know who I am''? Buffoon.[b][/b]Is he not the 'number 4'' man in Nigeria? He should travel in ''official flights'' if he does not want to be subjected to what every other person is subjected to

JUST LIKE THE evil genius, traitor, murderer, cocaine pusher, coupist, looter babangimad asking Nigerians who the hell his fucking traitor is

Nchara:


“For the record, British Government exempt security searches on Presidents, Vice Presidents and Speakers of the National Parliaments among other VIPs and British Airways is the national carrier of Britain.
“On Friday night after all security checks on the Speaker’s aide that accompanied him, the BA’s local officials had demanded that the hand luggage of the Speaker must be searched against the rules of British Government and British Aviation Authority (BAA). To avoid any scene the Speaker cancelled his trip and disembarked from the flight,” Bakare stated.
In a statement made available to THISDAY yesterday, he disclosed that, “when the Speaker travelled to London through another airline the next day, his hand luggage was not searched and on his return trip through BA, his hand luggage was equally not searched based on the exemption which have been confirmed from BAA Office in London.
“We are at a loss at the attitude of BA local officials wondering if it has to do with alleged refusal of Speaker’s aide to ‘tip’ the BA officials who ordinarily should be conversant with the rules of their organization,” he expressed.
However, Bakare has said the ugly incident has been reported to relevant aviation and security agencies for investigation.

_http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=180509

BA also needs to explain why they insisted on searching his hand luggage if the highlighted is true. Yeah, am feeling uncomfortable with Bankole's moves in recent times - the handling of the corruption allegation by the Melaye group, the fisticuffs with Daniel at Ota, silencing of Reps that wanted to take on OBJ - but the British govt. must respect our sovereignty according to the rules.

Pukkah:

BA also needs to explain why they insisted on searching his hand luggage if the highlighted is true. Yeah, am feeling uncomfortable with Bankole's moves in recent times - the handling of the corruption allegation by the Melaye group, the fisticuffs with Daniel at Ota, silencing of Reps that wanted to take on OBJ - but the British govt. must respect our sovereignty according to the rules.

They must have sensed he had looted funds in his luggage. Better we prevent money being looted than protecting the official ego of a Bank-Ole

Nchara:

They must have sensed he had looted funds in his luggage. Better we prevent money being looted than protecting the official ego of a Bank-Ole

Don't our so-called anti-corruption agencies have enough facts already with which to drag him to court? The Melaye case is sufficient to dock him yet EFCC has suddenly gone deaf and dumb. He declined to travel with BA but eventually did with Virgin. You see where the problem is? At home.

Someone might even argue that the luggage exemption rule breeds corruption but what has Jonathan's government done to ex-governors, ex-ministers, ex-Senate Presidents, ex-Speakers,etc. Or is he waiting for 2011?

the 4 bag must have been loaded with illegally obtained money etc.

Bankole is a dangerous thug, he might have had narcotic drugs inside that luggage sef, who knows.

His reputation obviously went before him

this guy really has issues.

Whatever be the case, I don't know why this people treat Nigerians with less respect.
How can they give full searching for  the speaker of house reps. Its really wrong.
I once worked in the airport I know how Diplomatic goods are handled.
If a cargo or baggage belongs to a diplomat and is tagged diplomatic consignment, Nobody has the right to open it for examination
Not even Customs or SSS or NDLEA. And if it gets opened by mistake, its a big problem to the company handling. I am talking of unaccompanied
goods, not even the ones that are being accompanied like the speakers own.

That's wrong on the part of the airline. There are many ways to catch him if he were smuggling  out  some heavy currencies.
British Ambassador will never be treated that way but the number four citizen of this country is treated that way. Well this might not be the true picture of what transpired.

Ibro Yaya:

Whatever be the case, I don't know why this people treat Nigerians with less respect.
How can they give full searching for  the speaker of house reps. Its really wrong.
I once worked in the airport I know how Diplomatic goods are handled.
If a cargo or baggage belongs to a diplomat and is tagged diplomatic consignment, Nobody has the right to open it for examination
Not even Customs or SSS or NDLEA. And if it gets opened by mistake, its a big problem to the company handling. I am talking of unaccompanied
goods, not even the ones that are being accompanied like the speakers own.

That's wrong on the part of the airline. There are many ways to catch him if he were smuggling  out  some heavy currencies.
British Ambassador will never be treated that way but the number four citizen of this country is treated that way. Well this might not be the true picture of what transpired.

ur talk make sense,but when it comes 2 our politicians,me I no dey pity dem

It was learnt that the BA Station Manager, identified as Mr. Axvies Ekwem, denied the speaker and his aide entry into the aircraft at about 22.45pm. during the secondary screening of intending passengers to UK

Why should British Airways pat him down when he is covered by immunity?. And the person who kicked him out from the plane is Nigerian for that matter. I may detest Bankole but he was disrespected in this case.

The man was carrying "sontin".

Beaf:

The man was carrying "sontin".

They over reacted. Were they expecting the speaker of the house to carry bombs or drugs?.

Will it be proper for Nigeria airways to search Hilary Clinton if she is on her way to Nigeria for official visit or vacation?

Aloy+Emeka:

They over reacted. Were they expecting the speaker of the house to carry bombs or drugs?.

Will it be proper for Nigeria airways to search Hilary Clinton if she is on her way to Nigeria for official visit or vacation?

I don't think BA would have had the guts to search Bankole. I am sure the real story will slowly bubble to the surface.

Hey! The only Nigerian politicians who should escape such luggage search are those using govt or private jets. Given the extent of their lootery, I will even subscribe that the president's luggage be searched if he ever flies publicly.

this guy(Bankole) needs to learn humility, That security man needs to be punished and BA must apologise

This is what power does to a man. Even common governors cause delays for flights let alone this agbero.

Why does this guy keep having issues at every place he goes?

Really, I still don't understand how some of us reason sef.

There is a rule that must be followed, the BA guys failed to honour (follow) rules, and the speaker left for another flight without creating scene. Now you guys are blaming him again.

Remember, he came back using BA and there was no noise. I know the guy is humble, but once a politician, you are always one.

I heard of an incident,  where the same Speaker gave out his seat for a passenger due to matter not concern him at all.

They over reacted. Were they expecting the speaker of the house to carry bombs or drugs

yes

agree with JUO [img]http://s07.flagcounter.com/count/DymW/bg=ffffff/txt=ffffff/border=ffffff/columns=1/maxflags=1/viewers=3/labels=0/[/img]

JUO:

yes

lol

If he has no skeleton in his cupboard, he would have allowed them to search him but nevetheless as far as the they have agreement with London government not to search the major executives, he is right then. At least he is reminding them of their agreement.

But we should not forget that equality before the law is not in existence in Nigeria, or have we?

I must commend the BA officials for job welldone.
bankole is a big thief, and he must pay for all his misdeed. why didnt allow the official to checked him if their is know any skeleton in his cupboard.

bank-ole thank for
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EeS102JrTvA&feature=player_embedded#at=40

bank-ole thank for  this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EeS102JrTvA&feature=player_embedded#at=40

Thief or no thief, thug or no thug, Bankole is still the number 4 citizen of Nigeria, duly covered by diplomatic immunity.
The overzealous Nigerian BA official must not go unpunished, and BA must render an unequivocal apology to the Honorable.

Nigerians should learn to remove unbridled sentiments from statutory courtesies as in this case.

BA also needs to explain why they insisted on searching his hand luggage if the highlighted is true. Yeah, am feeling uncomfortable with Bankole's moves in recent times - the handling of the corruption allegation by the Melaye group, the fisticuffs with Daniel at Ota, silencing of Reps that wanted to take on OBJ - but the British govt. must respect our sovereignty according to the rules.


SPOT ON!
i DONT KNOW WHO THE SPEAKER IS AND CANT BE BOTHER, FOR ALL I CARE HE IS PART OF THE PROBLEM NIGERIA HAS BUT IF THE LAW STATES THAT, A, IS IT SO SHALL IT BE WHETHER IT CONCERN A BLACK MAN/WOMEN FROM THE DEVELOPING COUNTRY OR NOT

I have also been very uncomfortable with some of his (the speaker's) recent moves. However, it is an high level insult from the BA officials. It shows disregard for our government in every way. It is even a national embarrassment.

Yet, I can't but feel that our politicians have brought this mess on us. We've rubbished ourselves so much with corruption that the world- even grossly unqualified people- easily find it convenient to pour dirt on us. So who's fault is it?

Na so them just throway the return ticket moneyNa wa o! Other peoples sweat.