Government Withdraws Criminal Complaint Against Comfort Emmanson, Reduces KWAM 1’s Ban

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By  John Ollor Obe 

The Federal Government has announced the withdrawal of the criminal complaint against Ms. Comfort Emmanson, the passenger involved in an altercation aboard an Ibom Air flight on August 10, 2025. The decision was revealed yesterday by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, CON, FCIArb (UK), in a statement addressing recent incidents of unruly behaviour at Nigerian airports.

Keyamo said the move followed consultations with stakeholders in the aviation sector and appeals from well-meaning individuals. He noted that while both offending passengers and airline staff had committed clear wrongs, valuable lessons had been learned on all sides, and the incidents had heightened public awareness about proper conduct in the aviation space.

Comfort Emmanson’s Case
According to the minister, Ms. Emmanson showed “great remorse” during her statement to police in the presence of her lawyer. As a result, Ibom Air has agreed to withdraw its complaint, paving the way for her release from Kirikiri Prisons this week.

Keyamo also disclosed that the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) had agreed to lift the lifetime ban previously imposed on her, with full details to be announced by the association in due course.

KWAM 1’s Case
In the case of Fuji musician Wasiu Ayinde Marshall (popularly known as KWAM 1), involved in an incident with ValueJet, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) will reduce his flight ban to one month. The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) will also collaborate with the artist to serve as an ambassador for proper airport security protocols.

The NCAA will withdraw its criminal complaint against KWAM 1, and ValueJet pilots Captain Oluranti Ogoyi and First Officer Ivan Oloba will have their licenses restored after serving the same one-month suspension and completing mandatory professional reappraisal.

Training and Industry Reforms
Keyamo announced that from next week, relevant aviation agencies—working with other security bodies—will begin a retreat to retrain aviation security personnel on handling disruptive passengers and de-escalating potentially volatile situations. The press will be given full access to cover the sessions.

Airlines will also hold their own review sessions focusing on the conduct and attitude of staff towards passengers.

A Line Drawn
The minister stressed that the decisions were taken on compassionate grounds and should not be mistaken for leniency in enforcing aviation laws.

“We are 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,” Keyamo stated.

John Ollor Obe 

(c) Prime Heritage Magazine 

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