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Turkish Airlines Denies Alleged Death of Passenger on Board

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Turkish Airlines has has described as ‘malicious’, a publication (not in Nigeria CommunicationsWeek) that a Nigerian, Oguadinna Somtochukwu, from Nnewi Anambra, resident of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia died inside a plane he boarded from Lagos to Kuala Lumpur.

When contacted on Thursday on the matter, a top management source of the airline reliably said:  “We will like to inform you that there is no iota of truth in the story.”

According to the source, “This is a blatant lie, and that somebody attributed the death of a person whose name did not even appear on the manifest of Turkish Airlines, is a sign of crude journalism and wickedness

“We have checked the information with Malaysian authorities As a matter of fact, it was on another airline, whose name we will not share the name.

“Within the scope of this information, we clearly and loudly say that it did not happen on Turkish Airlines flight; it has got nothing to do with Turkish Airlines.

“Why is it stated this way is another case which will be investigated and necessary official steps will be taken for all who are part of fabricating and distributing this lie,” said the official sources.

Meanwhile, no fewer than 266 passengers, who missed their flight from Lagos to Istanbul on Monday due to temporary cabin’s air-conditioning malfunctioning, had been successfully airlifted to Turkey on Tuesday night.

In a telephone conversation from Turkey, a passenger, who did not want his name in print, confirmed that they landed safely in Turkey.

Explaining what caused the delayed flight, an eye-witness at the airport said, “The AC issue happened when the passengers started boarding the aircraft TK626 on Monday. The airline notified the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc (NAHCO), which also collaborated with them to resolve it in record time, but some passengers started behaving funny, almost attacking the crew, as if what happened was a technical issue. It was just a matter of asking them to come out of the plane for the crew to restart the engine.

“However, all entreaties made by the crew members to explain the situation to them why they should come out to resolve the issue to enable them fly that Monday night were rejected as many of the passengers started behaving unruly. Assuming they had listened while trying to explain things to them on time, they would have been airlifted them to Turkey that night.

“After they had caused delay and it was clear they could not fly again for the day, the airline had to lodge them in Golden Tulip hotel in Apapa, fed them to their satisfaction and on Tuesday, the passengers were airlifted around 10.30 p.m after the technical crew had done a re-check in.”

Based on the eye witness account, the online report that many passengers fainted as a result of the AC issue was false and a figment of the journalist’s imagination, adding that the only woman who needed help due to fatigue and dizziness requested for medical attention from the crew and the nurses at Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria.

With the quick intervention and response of the airlines, some passengers were of the opinion that the airline is committed to serving its customers in Nigeria and across it’s over 296 destinations worldwide by putting safety first.

They also thanked the airlines for putting in necessary measures in place for the safety of the passengers no matter what happens.

However, some passengers were of the opinion that the airline should not accept the kind of unruly behaviour from any passenger.

According to the passengers, Turkish Airlines did more than enough to satisfy them, advising that the management of Turkish Airlines should sue the unruly passengers for causing discomfort and wasting the time of other law abiding passengers.


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Pawnith Appoints Martina Ogbebor as Managing Director to Lead Strategic Launch into Nigeria’s Fintech Ecosystem

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The Board of Directors of Pawnith Limited has announced the appointment of Martina Ogbebor as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer. The appointment coincides with the official launch of Pawnith as a sophisticated new entrant in Nigeria’s financial services and alternative investment landscape.

Pawnith Limited is a technology-enabled financial services platform established to address critical gaps in access to capital by delivering transparent, dignified, and scalable financing solutions.

The Board confirmed that Ms. Ogbebor’s appointment is central to a long-term strategy that combines the operational rigor of traditional finance with the speed, efficiency, and innovation of modern fintech.

Ms. Ogbebor brings over 15 years of senior leadership experience across the telecommunications and digital infrastructure sectors, where she has led brand transformations and nationwide revenue growth initiatives.

Her appointment signals Pawnith’s intent to build a high-trust financial institution anchored on strong governance, regulatory discipline, and long-term value creation.

“The Board is confident that Martina’s experience in building high-trust, regulated brands positions her uniquely to lead Pawnith at this critical stage,” said the Chairman of the Board.

“Her mandate is clear: to establish a disciplined capital platform that delivers rapid access to funding while upholding the highest standards of ethics, risk management, and corporate governance.”

Under Ms. Ogbebor’s leadership, Pawnith is launching a multi-segment capital model designed to evolve into a comprehensive financial services and alternative investment ecosystem.

The company’s initial portfolio spans personal credit solutions, offering short- to medium-term loans for salaried professionals with transparent pricing and rapid disbursement, alongside SME and business lending focused on working capital and growth financing to help entrepreneurs stabilise cash flow and scale operations.

The portfolio also includes asset-backed lending, providing secure, collateralised facilities that support fair valuations and flexible liquidity, as well as structured lending through a forthcoming private credit arm aimed at delivering institutional-grade financing to growing enterprises.

In addition, Pawnith offers private equity investment solutions, providing strategic growth capital to select businesses and partnering with founders to drive long-term value creation, stronger governance, and operational scale.

Pawnith’s digital infrastructure prioritises speed, security, and control. The platform features secure onboarding, automated Know Your Customer (KYC) verification, and structured repayment tracking to ensure a seamless and compliant experience for both individual and corporate clients.

“Pawnith is being built as a disciplined financial platform—one that customers, partners, and regulators can trust,” the Board added. “We are not a quick-win lender; we are building a cornerstone institution for Nigeria’s evolving credit and investment market.”

 


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PalmPay Deepens Its Long-Term Commitment in Nigeria with New Office @ Yaba

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PalmPay has opened a new office at 33 Old Yaba Road, Lagos, reinforcing its commitment to innovation, customer service, and operational growth in Nigeria.

The new office represents a continued investment in PalmPay’s people, operations, and infrastructure, supporting the company’s ability to deliver reliable financial services at scale. Designed to accommodate PalmPay’s growing team, the workspace enables closer cross-functional collaboration while strengthening service delivery nationwide. Located in Yaba, one of Lagos’s most established commercial and technology corridors, the office further anchors PalmPay within Nigeria’s innovation and financial ecosystem.

Speaking at the office launch, Managing Director Chika Nwosu highlighted that the new workspace reflects PalmPay’s long-term vision and dedication to excellence. “This new office represents an important step in our growth journey and our commitment to building secure, reliable, and inclusive financial solutions for our users,” he said.

The launch event was attended by PalmPay’s leadership team, employees and customers, who toured the facility and marked the company’s continued growth and progress.

With the opening of its office at 33 Old Yaba Road, PalmPay continues to strengthen its presence in Nigeria and reaffirm its mission to drive financial inclusion through innovative digital solutions.

PalmPay is a leading digital banking platform driving financial inclusion and economic empowerment in underserved emerging markets. Through its secure, user-friendly, and inclusive suite of financial services, PalmPay empowers individuals and businesses with tools to manage and grow their money.

PalmPay offers a comprehensive range of products, including mobile payments, savings, and micro-insurance via its app and mobile money agent network.

Since launching in Nigeria in 2019 under a Mobile Money Operator license, the platform has grown to over 35 million app users and processes up to 15 million transactions daily. PalmPay has operations in Nigeria, Ghana, Tanzania, and Bangladesh.


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NAHCO Signs New Ground Handling Deals

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The Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc has announced the signing of a chain of contracts with major airlines for the provision of total handling solutions.

In a statement on Tuesday, the company announced the signing of contract renewals with Air France, KLM and Virgin Atlantic, as well as the African operator, RwandAir.

NAHCO also signed fresh contracts with United Nigeria – Regional, Bellagio and Malaikair.

According to the statement, the contracts with Air France and KLM are for three years and will run till 2028, respectively. The duration of the contract with Virgin Atlantic was also put at three years.

The duration for the RwandAir contract is for three years, effective 1 October 2025.

The statement read, “The new contract with United – Regional would be for a period of five years, effective from 1 August 2025. For Bellagio and Malaikair, the contracts are for three and five years, respectively.

“Bellagio Air, Nigeria’s rising star in aviation, is redefining air travel with a blend of luxury, efficiency, and reliability. Headquartered in the vibrant city of Ikeja, Lagos, Bellagio Air is committed to providing world-class service across key domestic and regional routes.”

The Group Executive Director, Commercial and Business Development, NAHCO Plc, Saheed Lasisi, who expressed his delight with the new contracts, said NAHCO is already ready to exceed customers’ expectations.

According to Lasisi, NAHCO’s more than 46 years of unblemished excellent service delivery puts it heads and shoulders above any other service provider in the industry.

“This is what we have been doing for almost half of a century. We will continue to delight our customers and make our stakeholders happy by exceeding expectations in all aspects of our service offerings. We are always willing and ready to do more,” Lasisi added.

The Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, NAHCO Plc, Olumuyiwa Olumekun, added that with the new fleet of equipment the company is deploying, service delivery will only be better.

 


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