- Safiu Kehinde
The Federal Government has ordered the withdrawal of the case filed against Ibom Air passenger, Comfort Emmanson, following review of the incident involving her and officials of the Nigerian local airline.
NPO Reported that the passenger had in a video assaulted an Ibom Air hostess before being dragged out of the plane by airport officials at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, on Sunday.
The video which went viral on Monday had since sparked mixed reactions especially with the swift arraignment and remand of the passenger at the Kirikiri correctional centre.
In the process of dragging her out of the aircraft, her clothes were torn exposing her nakedness in the upper region of her body.
The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) had also slammed a life time flight ban on Emmanson, a decision which had since been heavily condemned as they called on the Federal Government over the lenient handling of similar case involving popular Nigerian Fuji musician, Wasiu Ayinde.
However, the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, has in a statement issued on Wednesday, ordered the withdrawal of Ibom Air complaint against Emmanson.
Keyamo also charged the Airport Command and the Police Prosecutor to immediately take the remaining steps to facilitate her release from Kirikiri Prison.
The Minister further ordered AON to lift the lifetime flight suspension as he acknowledged Emmanson’s remorse over her conduct during the investigation of the incident.
The statement read; “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.
“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.
“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.
“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.”