A 36-year-old Nigerian pilot, Olukayode Ojo, is facing up to five years in a U.S. federal prison after being found guilty of making false statements to obtain a certification from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Ojo’s conviction highlights the serious consequences of falsifying information to secure critical certifications.
The U.S. District Court in Texas found Ojo guilty on August 16, 2024, for providing false information in his applications for an FAA First Class Medical Certificate. Which is mandatory for pilots who wish to operate commercial passenger aircraft.
The court’s decision followed an investigation led by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jackson Eldridge and Matt Dillon prosecuting the case.
U.S. Attorney Robert Troester, in a statement posted on the FAA’s official website, explained the gravity of Ojo’s offense.
Troester stated, “Ojo’s actions represent a serious breach of trust.”
He added, “The integrity of our aviation system relies on the honesty and transparency of those who are entrusted with the lives of passengers.”
Ojo’s legal troubles began when he was charged with two counts of making false statements in a federal indictment returned on June 4, 2024. The charges stemmed from an incident where Ojo, who is certified by the FAA as a commercial airline pilot, attempted to hide his criminal history from the FAA.
According to evidence presented during the trial, Ojo had previously pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor theft charges on February 8, 2023, in a Kentucky state court. These charges were related to the theft of passenger luggage from baggage carousels at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport.
Despite his conviction, Ojo submitted false information to the FAA in March 2023 and again in March 2024, in an effort to obtain the First Class Medical Certificate, concealing his prior convictions.
U.S. District Judge Jodi Dishman, who presided over the case, ordered that Ojo be detained until his sentencing, emphasizing the seriousness of his offense. Ojo now faces a potential sentence of up to five years in federal prison, along with fines that could reach $250,000 for each count of his conviction.
The case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of maintaining integrity in the aviation industry. The FAA’s certification process is designed to ensure that only qualified and trustworthy individuals are allowed to pilot commercial aircraft. And any attempt to circumvent this process is met with severe penalties.