FG Withdraws Criminal Complaint Against Ibom Air Passenger Comfort Emmanson, Orders Release from Kirikiri Prison

The Federal Government has withdrawn the criminal complaint against Ibom Air passenger, Ms. Comfort Emmanson, and directed her release from Kirikiri Prisons.

The Federal Government has withdrawn the criminal complaint against Ibom Air passenger, Ms. Comfort Emmanson, and directed her release from Kirikiri Prisons within the week, following an altercation on board an Ibom Air flight on August 10, 2025.

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, announced the decision on Wednesday after consultations with key aviation stakeholders, including Ibom Air, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), and the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON).

“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,” Keyamo stated.

According to the minister, when police took Emmanson’s statement in the presence of her lawyer, “she exhibited great remorse for her conduct.” He added that the Commissioner of Police for Airport Command and the Police Prosecutor had been instructed to take immediate steps to facilitate her release.

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Keyamo also revealed that the AON had agreed to lift the lifetime flight ban imposed on Emmanson. “The details of the resolution will be made public by the AON subsequently,” he said.

The minister emphasised that while clear wrongs were committed by both the offending passengers and some airline staff in recent incidents, the government considered the matter closed after expressions of remorse from all parties. “Government will never pander to base sentiments, politically motivated views, or warped legal opinions when clear encroachment of our laws are involved,” he said. “We have decided to draw a line after these clemencies.”

The decision comes as part of a wider move to address recent cases of unruly behaviour at Nigerian airports. Keyamo said all relevant aviation agencies and other security bodies would begin a retreat next week to retrain personnel on how to handle disruptive passengers and de-escalate tense situations, while airlines would also review the conduct of their staff towards travellers.

KWAM 1 Case
In the August 5 incident involving KWAM 1 and ValueJet staff, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) reduced his six-month flight ban to one month. The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) will also engage the musician as an ambassador for airport security protocol.

The NCAA will withdraw its criminal complaint against him, while ValueJet’s Captain Oluranti Ogoyi and First Officer Ivan Oloba will have their licenses restored after serving a one-month suspension and undergoing professional re-appraisal.

Sector-Wide Measures
Keyamo directed all aviation agencies to hold a retreat next week to retrain security personnel on handling disruptive passengers and de-escalating tense situations. Airlines will also have sessions focusing on staff conduct towards passengers.

“These decisions were taken purely on compassionate grounds,” Keyamo said, warning that the government remains committed to enforcing safety and security laws in the aviation sector. “We have decided to draw a line after these clemencies.”