Jim Iyke, Nollywood actor, was reportedly arrested for allegedly assaulting an airport worker.
Iyke reportedly arrived late for his flight to Abuja on Monday, August 27, 2018. The airline security, in maintaining protocol, tried to search him but the actor was said to have resisted.
The encounter was said to have upset the ‘Last Flight to Abuja’ actor, provoking him to slap the security worker.
Alabi Joseph, the public relations officer, airport police command, said Iyke was released after he apologised.
Kingsley Ezenwa, Dana Air’s media and communications manager, also said Iyke had been released
Speaking with TheNetng after the incident, Iyke said the allegation of him slapping the airport attendant is “fake news”.
The actor said the confrontation was actually between his personal assistant and the airport attendant.
Recounting the incident, he said: “The truth is that I was running late for a flight in Abuja, and my people had sent my luggage a flight ahead. I tried hard not to miss the flight, but by the time I made it to the gate, the captain had almost shut the aircraft.
“One of the security guards who saw me struggling to make my way in got overzealous and got into an argument with my PA. Then they started exchanging words and pointing fingers at the heat of the moment.
At the end of the day, we couldn’t even make it (the flight) and when we were coming back, the airport assistant went to call the police and said my personal assistant hit his face and pushed him.
“But when the policeman saw that it was me, I told them to let us go downstairs to resolve the matter, it was an issue of tempers fraying. We then went downstairs and the matter was resolved. I even boarded the same Dana Air Craft and I was shocked upon my arrival to hear that I was arrested by the police. Which police?
“The funny part is that this guy they said I slapped came to pick me up at the lounge and took me to the plane. He got me a better seat and I gave him little change because I know the country is hard. We hugged and ended it on a great note. The manager himself took me to the plane and I told him to school his staff on how to treat people.
“It’s sad the length that people will go to spread the fake news about people.”
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