Section 23: Power to prevent flight of aircraft

(1)
Any officer or police officer, if it appears to him that an aircraft is intended or likely to depart for a destination outside Nigeria from any place other than a customs airport otherwise than as permitted in writing by the Board, or from a customs airport before customs clearance is given therefrom, may give such instructions and take such steps by way of detention of the aircraft or otherwise as appear to him necessary in order to prevent the flight.
[1959 No.6.]
(2)
Any person who contravenes any instructions given under subsection (1) of this section shall be liable to a fine of four hundred naira or to imprisonment for a term of six months, or to both; and if an aircraft flies in contravention of any such instruction or notwithstanding any steps taken to prevent the flight, the operator of the aircraft and the commander thereof shall, without prejudice to the liability of any other person under this subsection, each be similarly liable unless he proves that the flight took place without his consent or connivance.