Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, CON, on Wednesday announced the withdrawal of the criminal complaint filed against Ms. Comfort Emmanson, the Ibom Air passenger involved in the August 10 incident that sparked public outrage.
In a statement released via his official X handle, Keyamo said the decision followed consultations with critical stakeholders in the aviation sector and appeals from well-meaning Nigerians.
He noted that while “clear wrongs were committed by both the offending passengers and airline staff,” valuable lessons had been learned, and airport security protocols had been brought into sharper public focus.
Ibom Air Case
Keyamo revealed that Ibom Air had agreed to withdraw its complaint against Ms. Emmanson, who, according to the minister, “exhibited great remorse” when she gave her statement to the police in the presence of her lawyer. Following the withdrawal, the Lagos Airport Police Command and the prosecuting team will facilitate her release from Kirikiri Prisons within the week.
He also confirmed that the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) had agreed to lift the lifetime flight ban imposed on her.
Other High-Profile Aviation Cases
On the case involving music icon Wasiu Ayinde Marshall (KWAM 1) and ValueJet staff, Keyamo said the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) had reduced KWAM 1’s flight ban to one month and would work with him as an ambassador for airport security protocol. The NCAA will also withdraw its criminal complaint against the musician.
Similarly, the one-month suspension imposed on ValueJet’s Captain Oluranti Ogoyi and First Officer Ivan Oloba will be lifted after they undergo mandatory professional reappraisal.
Security and Customer Service Overhaul
Keyamo further directed that a retreat be held next week for aviation and complementary security agencies to retrain personnel on handling unruly passengers and de-escalating tense situations. Airlines will also hold sessions focusing on staff conduct towards passengers.
The minister stressed that the decisions were made on “compassionate grounds” and should not be mistaken for political or sentimental concessions. “We take safety and security in the aviation sector very seriously, and we have decided to draw a line after these clemencies,” he said.
