VETERAN journalist and media entrepreneur, Dele Momodu, has recounted how he was almost detained at Heathrow Airport in the United Kingdom after officials found 18 mobile phones in his bag.
News Point Nigeria reports that Momodu made the disclosure in a video shared on his story on Tuesday from an associate’s page during a discussion about his use of multiple mobile phones. He said he currently had six phones, while some had dual SIMs, and he also kept some others in reserve.
Recounting the incident, Momodu said he was travelling to South Africa with a senator when airport officials stopped him and questioned him about the number of phones in his possession.
“There was a time I was almost detained at Heathrow Airport. I had 18 phones in my bag. Yeah, when they stopped me, they said, ‘Where are you going?’ I was going to South Africa with the senator… And then they just called the special force to come and put all the phones in a tray. And they were asking me, ‘What do you do for a living?’ I said, ‘I’m a journalist.’ ‘Is that why you are carrying 18 phones?’ I said, ‘I didn’t read anywhere that I can’t carry 18 phones.”
Momodu said the officials subsequently asked him to provide evidence of his profession.
He explained that, at the time, he carried an iPad, which he used to show some of the prominent personalities he had interviewed or met.
According to him, he deliberately displayed photographs of former British monarch Queen Elizabeth II and former United States President Bill Clinton as a way of establishing his identity and professional standing.
“I said, ‘So, can you show proof of what you do?’ At that time, I used to carry an iPad, so I brought out the iPad. And, of course, I know how to drop names very well. People don’t know that name-dropping is part of the media. ‘Who do you know? Who have you interviewed? Who have you met?’ You know, then I just opened the iPad, and the first person I pressed was Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Then I brought out President Clinton. That’s the only way a black man would have an air.”
The interviewer noted that the display showed the officials that Momodu was not a regular person.
Momodu said he remained calm during the encounter before the officials referred him to Customs.
Momodu said the matter was then transferred to Customs officials, who subjected him to another round of questioning.
He said the number of phones was considered a commercial quantity, although he explained that the devices were old.
“Then, after that, the next thing they said was that I had to go to Customs. ‘That 18 phones is commercial quantity.’ I said, ‘They are all old phones.’ ‘Don’t worry.’ Then they took me to Customs. When we got to Customs, the same ritual again. ‘What do you do?’ ‘I’m a journalist.’ ‘Can you show us?’ I brought out my Queen again. And you know, the Queen is the head of the Customs in England,” he said.