A 36-year-old Nigerian national, Olukayode Ojo, is facing a potential five-year prison sentence in Texas, United States, after being found guilty of making false statements in order to obtain a certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration
According to The PUNCH, on Wednesday, following the guilty verdict, U.S. District Judge Jodi Dishman ordered that Ojo be detained pending his sentencing.
The conviction was announced on Monday by U.S. Attorney Robert Troester, who issued a statement on the FAA’s official website, highlighting that Ojo’s attempt to secure a medical certificate—essential for piloting commercial passenger aircraft—resulted in his conviction on August 16, 2024.
Troester explained that the case stemmed from an investigation conducted by the Transportation Security Administration—Investigations, with prosecution led by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jackson Eldridge and Matt Dillon.
He explained, “On June 4, 2024, a federal jury returned a two-count superseding indictment against Ojo, charging him with two counts of making a false statement. On August 16, 2024, a federal jury found Ojo guilty on both counts.”
During the trial, evidence presented revealed 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.
The charges were related to the theft of passenger luggage from the baggage carousels at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport.
In an attempt to conceal his criminal record, Ojo made false statements to the FAA in March 2023 and March 2024 while applying for an FAA First Class Medical Certificate, which is required for piloting commercial passenger planes.
Ojo now faces the possibility of up to five years in federal prison for each count, along with fines of up to $250,000 per count.
