The Federal Government has ordered the withdrawal of the criminal complaint against Ms. Comfort Emmanson, the passenger who was arrested after clashing with Ibom Air cabin crew on a Uyo–Lagos flight last Sunday.
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, announced the decision on Tuesday via his X (formerly Twitter) account, saying it followed consultations with key stakeholders and a review of recent incidents involving unruly passengers in Nigeria’s aviation sector.
Emmanson was arraigned on Monday and remanded in Kirikiri Correctional Centre after the altercation on Ibom Air flight Q9 303. However, Keyamo said the government chose to intervene after considering the remorse she expressed during her police statement, as well as appeals from well-meaning Nigerians.
“In the case of Ms. Comfort Emmanson, I have conferred with Ibom Airline to withdraw the complaint against her today,” Keyamo stated. “Following the withdrawal, the Police will take immediate steps to facilitate her release from Kirikiri Prisons within this week.”
The Minister also confirmed that the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) had agreed to lift the lifetime flight ban earlier imposed on Emmanson.
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Keyamo further addressed other recent aviation disputes, including the case of Fuji music legend Wasiu Ayinde Marshall, popularly known as KWAM 1, who was sanctioned over a ValuJet flight incident. The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) will now reduce his flight ban to one month and withdraw its criminal complaint, while the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) plans to engage him as an ambassador for airport security awareness.
Similarly, ValuJet pilots Captain Oluranti Ogoyi and First Officer Ivan Oloba will have their licenses restored after a one-month suspension and a mandatory professional re-appraisal.
Keyamo announced plans for an inter-agency retreat next week to retrain aviation security personnel on conflict resolution and passenger management, as well as sessions focused on improving airline staff conduct.
“These decisions are purely on compassionate grounds,” the Minister stressed. “Government will never compromise safety and security in the aviation sector, but we have chosen to draw a line after these clemencies.”
