FG orders Ibom Air to withdraw charges against ‘unruly’ passenger

Tosin AinaAugust 13, 20253 Mins read60 Views

The Federal Government has directed Ibom Air to withdraw its criminal complaint against Ms Comfort Emmanson, the passenger accused of unruly conduct aboard the airline on 10 August.

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, announced the decision on Wednesday following consultations with key stakeholders in the aviation sector.

The minister disclosed that after Ibom Air withdraws its complaint, the Airport Command of the Nigeria Police and the prosecuting team would take immediate steps to facilitate Ms Emmanson’s release from Kirikiri Prison this week.

He also confirmed that the Airline Operators of Nigeria had agreed to lift the lifetime flying ban placed on her, with further details to be announced soon.

Keyamo also addressed the case involving Fuji musician Wasiu Ayinde, popularly known as KWAM 1, whose altercation with ValueJet staff recently sparked controversy.

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority is to reduce his flight ban to one month and withdraw its criminal complaint against him. The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria will also engage him as an ambassador for airport security protocol.

The minister further revealed that ValueJet’s Captain Oluranti Ogoyi and First Officer Ivan Oloba would have their licences restored after serving a one-month suspension and undergoing mandatory professional reappraisal.

To prevent similar incidents, Keyamo has directed aviation and complementary agencies to hold a retreat next week to retrain security personnel on handling disruptive passengers and de-escalating tensions. Airlines will also hold sessions focused on improving staff conduct towards passengers.

He stressed that the decisions were taken on compassionate grounds and not influenced by political or legal pressure, warning that while clemency had been granted in these cases, the government remained committed to enforcing aviation safety and security rules.

The text reads fully, “1. In the last 48 hours, I have been in consultation with critical stakeholders in the Aviation Sector and those involved in the unfortunate incidents regarding the unruly behaviours of certain individuals at our airports of recent.

“2. Though regrettable, we think valuable lessons have been learnt by all sides to these incidents and airport security protocol, especially, have been well highlighted for the travelling public. If nothing at all, the episodes have undoubtedly helped to raise public awareness about appropriate conduct within the aviation space.

“3. As highlighted in my previous statements on the last two incidents, clear wrongs were committed by both the offending passengers and staff of the airlines involved from all the evidence available to us and those available to the public. It is clear that all the actors involved cannot continue to highlight the injury or injustice done to them without acknowledging their own equal culpability.

“5. Therefore, after reviewing the entire incidents, including appeals made by well-meaning individuals and remorse shown by the actors, the following decisions have been reached:

“THE CASE OF IBOM AIRLINE AND MS. COMFORT EMMANSON

“(a) In the case of the unruly passenger, Ms. Comfort Emmanson, on the Ibom Airline on Sunday, the 10th of August, 2025, I have conferred with Ibom Airline to withdraw the Complaint against her today. When the Police took her Statement in presence of her lawyer, she exhibited great remorse for her conduct.

“(b) Subsequent to the withdrawal of the complaint by the Complainant, the CP of Airport Command and the Police Prosecutor will immediately take the remaining steps to facilitate her release from Kirikiri Prisons within this week.

“(c) I have also conferred with the leadership of the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) and have appealed to them to lift the life-time flying ban imposed on her, to which they agreed. The details of the resolution will be made public by the AON subsequently.

“THE CASE OF VALUEJET AND WASIU AYINDE MARSHALL (KWAM 1)

“(d) In the case of KWAM 1, the NCAA is to reduce his flight ban to a one-month period. FAAN will also work with the music star with a view to engaging him as an ambassador for proper airport security protocol going forward.

“(e) Having publicly demonstrated penitence, the NCAA is also to withdraw its criminal complaints against KWAM 1 earlier lodged with the Police.

“(f) In the case of Captain Oluranti Ogoyi, and the co-pilot, First Officer Ivan Oloba of VALUEJET, the NCAA is to restore their licenses after the same period of one-month ban after undergoing some mandatory professional re-appraisal. The details will be announced by the NCAA.

“AIRLINE OPERATORS, AVIATION AND OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCIES

“6. I have directed all relevant Aviation agencies in collaboration with other complementary agencies outside aviation to IMMEDIATELY begin a retreat NEXT WEEK to properly retrain and prepare our Aviation security personnel on how to deal with errant and disruptive passengers and how to deescalate potentially explosive situations. The retreat will be fully covered by the Press with the opportunity to ask all the relevant questions.

“7. The Airlines will also have their own session when the conduct and attitude of their staff towards members of the travelling public will be in full focus.

“FINAL COMMENTS

“8. These above decisions were taken by Government and the airline operators purely on COMPASSIONATE grounds as Government will never pander to base sentiments, politically-motivated views or warped legal opinions when clear encroachment of our laws are involved.

“9. We are also sending a CLEAR MESSAGE that we take safety and security in the aviation sector very seriously and we have decided to draw a line after these clemencies.”