A bag containing bundles $20,000; N500,000, jewelry and other valuables worth millions of Naira forgotten inside one of the buses for conveying passengers at the Airside of Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos Terminal Two (MMA2), has been returned to the owner.
It was learnt that the bag belonged to a prominent Nigerian (names withheld) who boarded an Arik Air flight from MMA2 to Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital on Monday.
The bag, which was found by an aviation security official was returned by Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL), operators of the Terminal.
The Group Corporate Affairs Manager of BASL, Mikail Mumuni, who disclosed this, said the bag was forgotten inside a Coaster bus used for conveying passengers at the Airside, with the number plate BDG 689 GW.
The bag was said to have been picked up by the driver of the bus, Mr. Emmanuel Eluu and brought to the Aviation Security (AVSEC) Airside Supervisor, Mr. Taiwo Adelakun.
“Eluu was accompanied by Gbadamosi Olasunkami (Operations, Airside Supervisor) and Oluwole Alonge (Operations, Airside Head of Shift) to ascertain what was kept in the bag and for safe keeping,” Mumuni said.
The BASL spokesman added that Items found in the bag were $20,000.00 in two bundles, N500,000 in five bundles, nine wristwatches in black and yellow pouches, a bead in a yellow bag, one eyeglasses, pieces of jewelry in two golden purses, four bank cheques, and eye drop.
Others were envelopes of different sizes, a bundle of the Business cards belonging to the owner of the bag (names withheld), an identification card and a Samsung Note 20 Ultra.
“The items were kept in security custody by Adelakun as instructed by the AVSEC Manager, Mr. Okeowo Olatunbosun and confirmed by Gbadamosi Olasunkanmi.”
He said the bag owner was contacted by the security supervisor on the instruction of the AVSEC Manager based on the phone number on the business card.
The spokesman said on arrival at his destination (Port Harcourt), the owner of the bag who had boarded an Arik Air flight from MMA2 instructed his protocol officer to collect the bag on his behalf.
“The owner of the bag initiated a video conversation with Adelakun (Security Supervisor) affirming the identity of the protocol officer and thanked the management and staff of MMA2 for the honesty and professionalism displayed by them,” Mumuni said.
It would be recalled that an AVSEC staff of MMA2 similarly in April found the sum of N2.3million misplaced by an Uyo-bound passenger on Ibom Airline, and the money was returned to him.