U.S. Court Considers 5-Year Sentence for Nigerian Pilot Over Falsifying Statement

A 36-year-old Nigerian pilot, Olukayode Ojo, is facing a potential five-year prison sentence in Texas after being found guilty of falsifying statements to obtain a certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Following the guilty verdict, U.S. District Judge Jodi Dishman ordered Ojo’s detention until his sentencing. The announcement of Ojo’s conviction was made by U.S. Attorney Robert Troester on Monday through a statement on the FAA’s official website, revealing that Ojo had attempted to secure a medical certificate necessary for piloting commercial passenger aircraft, leading to his conviction on August 16, 2024.

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

“On June 4, 2024, a federal jury returned a two-count superseding indictment against Ojo, charging him with making false statements. On August 16, 2024, the jury found Ojo guilty on both counts,” Troester stated.

Evidence presented during the trial revealed that Ojo, an FAA-certified commercial airline pilot, had 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 baggage carousels at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport.

In March 2023 and March 2024, Ojo made false statements to the FAA while applying for an FAA First Class Medical Certificate in an effort to conceal his prior criminal convictions. This certificate is essential for an airman to pilot commercial passenger aircraft.

Ojo now faces a potential sentence of up to five years in federal prison, along with fines of up to $250,000 for each count.