Nigerian Northwest Plotter Bought Ticket In Ghana

The return journey was booked for January 8, 2010 out of Detroit to arrive Lagos on January 9, 2010. No contact address or telephone number was given by the purchaser of the ticket at the time of purchase.

[Global: Africa]

The Director General of Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Dr.  Harold Demuren confirmed yesterday that Farouk [Abdulmutallab] bought his ticket in Accra, the Ghanaian capital without a telephone number and fixed contact address.

Demuren, who along with other aviation and security chiefs comprising the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Aviation Security committee members addressed reporters yesterday, explained that Farouk bought the KLM ticket at the Airport office of the airline in Accra, before showing up to board on December 24, at the Lagos Airport with a bag strapped on his shoulders.

Demuren explained that Farouk personally checked in according to passenger information document about 2035 local time as corroborated by the CCTV footage.

Demuren said: “The ticket information revealed that he purchased the ticket in Accra, for USD 2,831, with original routing for Lagos – Amsterdam- Detroit- Amsterdam- Accra, but later changed it to Lagos- Amsterdam- Detroit- Lagos.

The return journey was booked for January 8, 2010 out of Detroit to arrive Lagos on January 9, 2010. No contact address or telephone number was given by the purchaser of the ticket at the time of purchase. This was confirmed in KLM office in Lagos that the original ticket bought in Accra was cancelled and re- issued on the same December 16, 2009.

“He personally checked in at 2035 local time. The passenger did not check in any baggage but was spotted with a shoulder bag. He went through normal screening and check in process. His passport was scanned. His US visa was scanned and the advance passenger information system returned no objection. He was allotted seat number 20B on the Lagos – Amsterdam leg, and seat 19A on the Amsterdam – Detroit leg.

“The passenger possessed a Nigerian machine readable passport issued Sept 15, 2005 to expire Sept 14, 2010 with passport number A3921640. His multiple entry US visa was issued in London, UK, on June 16, 2008 to expire June 2010.”

Demuren further explained that the passenger presented himself for immigration clearance with the passport number, which was scanned into the passenger registration system, confirming that he went through normal standard security procedure.

“Thereafter, he passed through aviation security comprising of walk- through metal detector and baggage X-ray screening machine. He proceeded to the boarding gate where he went through secondary screening as confirmed by KLM officials. At the closure of the departure, passenger was confirmed on board, his name was on the post manifest under the serial number 2.”

Demuren pledged the willingness of Nigerian authorities to assist in any investigation that would unravel the circumstances surrounding the incident.

He affirmed that safety is assured in all Nigerian airports as Nigeria recently passed the International Civil Aviation Organization (icao)security audit as well as America Transportation Security Administration Audit (ATSA).

Demuren further raised some posers: “How did the passenger pass through the Amsterdam Airport security screening?

“Those who say there is no security in Nigeria airports, how did the passenger pass through the Amsterdam airport into the aircraft?

He spoke of plans to beef up security at all airports in Nigeria, even as the World Bank will assist in acquiring explosive detectors at all international airports in Nigeria.

Demuren said : “We are working hard to beef up security at all airports in Nigeria, we are not absolutely worried over the development. But, it is difficult to detect powdered substance, depending on the quantity, even the US Transport Safety Administration has observed that.

“We do not know, where the Nigerian got the substance from, but, it is too early to speculate because of on going investigations.”

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