The federal government has announced its decision to withdraw a criminal complaint against the unruly Ibom Air passenger, Comfort Emmanson.
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Management, Festus Keyamo in a statement issued Tuesday said the decision to withdraw criminal charges was made after reviewing the entire incidents, including appeals made by well-meaning individuals and remorse shown by the actors.
He noted: “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.
“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.
“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.”
Keyamo noted that it was clear that all the actors involved cannot continue to highlight the injury or injustice done to them without acknowledging their own equal culpability.
He added: “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.
“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.
“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.’’
In the case of ValueJet and Fuji star, Wasiu Ayinde Marshall (KWAM 1), Keyamo revealed that the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) would reduce his flight ban to a one-month period.
The minister stressed that the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) would also work with the music star with a view to engaging him as an ambassador for proper airport security protocol going forward.
He pointed out that having publicly demonstrated penitence, the NCAA is also to withdraw its criminal complaints against KWAM 1 earlier lodged with the Police.
The minister said that in the case of Capt. 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.
He disclosed that he has 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 aviation security personnel on how to deal with errant and disruptive passengers and how to deescalate potentially explosive situations.
Keyamo said the retreat would be fully covered by the press with the opportunity to ask all the relevant questions.
He stated categorically that the decisions were taken by the government and the airline operators purely on compassionate grounds, maintaining that the government would never pander to base sentiments, politically-motivated views or warped legal opinions when clear encroachment of our laws are involved.