Nigerian Pilot Risks Five-Year Imprisonment In U.S. Court

Nigerian Pilot Risks Five-Year Imprisonment In U.S. Court

A 36-year-old Nigerian, Olukayode Ojo, is facing a possible five-year prison sentence in Texas, United States, after being found guilty of making false statements to obtain a certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)……CONTINUE READING 

According to reports on Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Jodi Dishman has ordered that Ojo, a Nigerian pilot, be detained until his sentencing.

U.S. Attorney Robert Troester announced Ojo’s conviction on Monday via a statement on the FAA’s official website. The statement revealed that Ojo was found guilty on August 16, 2024, after attempting to obtain a medical certificate required for piloting a commercial passenger aircraft.

Troester explained that the case was part of an investigation by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jackson Eldridge and Matt Dillon.

The investigation revealed that on June 4, 2024, a federal jury indicted Ojo on two counts of making false statements. The jury found him guilty on both counts on August 16, 2024. Evidence presented at trial showed that Ojo, an FAA-certified commercial airline pilot, had previously pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor theft charges on February 8, 2023, in Kentucky state court. These charges were related to the theft of passenger luggage from the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport.

Subsequently, Ojo made false statements to the FAA in March 2023 and March 2024 while applying for an FAA First Class Medical Certificate, attempting to hide his prior criminal convictions. This certificate is essential for piloting commercial passenger aircraft.

Ojo now faces up to five years in federal prison and fines of up to $250,000 for each count.