Veteran Nigerian journalist and publisher of Ovation International, Dele Momodu, has recalled how he was nearly detained at London’s Heathrow Airport after security officials discovered 18 mobile phones in his luggage.
Momodu recounted the incident in a video circulating widely on social media, saying the number of phones raised concerns among airport officials and led to questions about his occupation.
He said the incident happened while he was travelling to South Africa, when security personnel stopped him after finding the phones in his bag.
According to Momodu, officials called in specialist personnel to investigate the matter before asking him to establish that he was a journalist.
“There was a time I was almost detained at Heathrow because I had 18 phones in my bag. They stopped me while I was going to South Africa,” he said.
He said the phones were removed from his luggage and placed in a tray as officials questioned him about their intended use.
Momodu told the officials that he was a journalist and used his iPad to demonstrate his professional connections.
“I told them I’m a journalist. When they demanded proof, that time I used to carry an iPad, so I brought it out and, of course, I know how to drop names very well,” he said.
The publisher said establishing one’s professional credentials through prominent contacts was, in his view, part of working in the media.
“People don’t know that name-dropping is part of media. Who do you know? Who have you interviewed? Who have you met?” he said.
Momodu recalled using his iPad to contact people connected to the late Queen Elizabeth II and former United States President Bill Clinton in an effort to satisfy the officials that he was a journalist.
“I just opened the iPad and the first number I dialled was Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, and former US President Bill Clinton,” he said.
He said the matter was subsequently referred to Customs, where officials continued to question him about the quantity of phones in his possession.
“They took me to Customs saying 18 phones is commercial quantities, but I said they are all old phones. When we got to Customs, the same ritual again. What do you do? I’m a journalist, and I brought out my Queen again,” Momodu recounted.
He said he was eventually allowed to continue his journey, although the lengthy questioning came close to making him miss his flight.
