One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
LAX Stowaway Scam Artist 'Storyteller' Pleads Not Guilty
Noibi (Booking photo)
The airline passenger who is thought to be a boarding pass scam artist appeared in court today in Los Angeles to enter not guilty pleas on felony charges he was a stowaway and he attempted to enter a secure ares of Los Angeles International Airport. Olajide Oluwaseun Noibi, 24, originally from Nigeria, was arrested last month attempting to board a flight out of LAX using a boarding pass that was not issued in his name. Noibi had arrived a few days earlier in L.A. after successfully boarding a flight from New York's JFK airport using a boarding pass he allegedly swiped from another passenger's back pocket.
Noibi said he was in L.A. to recruit potential workers for his software business, says KTLA, adding that he has described himself on Facebook as a Chicago-based man who is a "storyteller, strategist and designer who is passionate about reaching the world for Jesus."
Authorities say a search of Noibi's luggage in Los Angeles revealed numerous boarding passes issued in other people's names.
Amazingly, Noibi cleared security in New York, although his boarding pass was not in his name and was dated for the previous day, and he only carried a university-issued ID on him.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
