The Federal Government has ordered the Ibom Airlines to immediately withdraw its case against the unruly passenger, Ms. Comfort Emmanson, on the Ibom Airline on Sunday, the 10th of August, 2025.
The Federal Government in a statement this Wednesday (13/8/25), by the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo issued following appeals from Stakeholders and the public concerning the matter and other related issues pointed out that when the Police took her Statement in the presence of her lawyer, she exhibited great remorse for her conduct.
The FG to this end further directed the CP of Airport Command and the Police Prosecutor to 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,” the statement read.
Regarding the earlier similar matter involving Wasiu Ayinde Marshall (KWAM 1), the Federal also directed the NCAA to reduce his flight ban to a one-month period while instructing FAAN to also work with the music star with a view to engaging him as an ambassador for proper airport security protocol going forward.
” Having publicly demonstrated penitence, the NCAA is also to withdraw its criminal complaints against KWAM 1 earlier lodged with the Police,” the statement explained.
Concerning the case of Captain Oluranti Ogoyi, and the co-pilot, First Officer Ivan Oloba of VALUEJET, FG told the NCAA is to restore their licenses after the same period of one-month ban after undergoing some mandatory professional re-appraisal.
As a way of curtailing and eradicating such incidents in the future, FG directed all relevant Aviation agencies in collaboration with other complementary agencies outside aviation to immediately begin a retreat 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, adding the programme will be fully covered by the Press with the opportunity to ask all the relevant questions.
“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.
“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.
” 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,” the release reassured .
