The Federal Government has withdrawn its criminal complaint against Ms. Comfort Emmanson, the Ibom Air passenger accused of unruly conduct on August 10, 2025, following consultations with aviation stakeholders and appeals from concerned Nigerians.
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo (SAN), disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, noting that the decision was based on the remorse shown by those involved and the lessons learnt from the incidents.
According to the Minister, Ibom Air has agreed to withdraw its complaint, while the Commissioner of Police at the Airport Command and the Police Prosecutor will take steps to facilitate Ms. Emmanson’s release from Kirikiri Prisons within the week. The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) also consented to lifting the lifetime flight ban earlier placed on her.
In a related development, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has reduced the flight ban on Fuji music icon, Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, popularly known as KWAM 1, to one month. The agency will also withdraw its criminal complaint against him, while the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) plan to engage him as an ambassador for airport security protocol.
Keyamo further announced that ValueJet’s Captain Oluranti Ogoyi and First Officer Ivan Oloba will have their licences restored after serving a one-month suspension and completing a mandatory professional re-appraisal.
The Minister directed aviation agencies to commence a retreat next week to retrain security personnel on managing disruptive passengers and de-escalating potentially explosive situations. Airlines will also hold a dedicated session to address staff conduct towards passengers.
“These decisions were taken purely on compassionate grounds,” Keyamo said, stressed that government would not tolerate future breaches of safety and security in the aviation sector.
