The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has ordered Ibom Air to withdraw criminal charges against Comfort Emmanson, the passenger alleged to have refused to comply with safety instructions on switching off her phone, assaulted crew members, and even tried to use a fire extinguisher as a weapon, on Sunday, at the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos.
Keyamo made this on Wednesday in a post via his X handle, ordering the case against Emmanson be withdrawn today.
The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) has imposed a lifetime flying ban on Emmanson, who board Ibom Air flight Q9 303, over what it called “one of the most severe cases of unruly behaviour witnessed this year.”
“She bluntly refused to comply until the Pilot-in-Command made an announcement, after which a fellow passenger seated beside her took the phone and switched it off,” the airline said.
The carrier had earlier announced a travel ban on her, but AON’s decision means she will be barred from flying with any of its member airlines for life.
“This was not just disruptive; it was a sustained, violent attack that placed the lives of crew, passengers, and the integrity of the aircraft itself at risk. This behaviour is unacceptable,” said Obiora Okonkwo, AON spokesperson.
According to Keyamo, he said he had 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.
He acknowledged the action as “regrettable”, adding that valuable lessons have been learnt by all sides to these incidents and airport security protocol, especially, have been well highlighted for the travelling public.
He restated that both incidents involving Emmason and KWAM 1 indicated clear wrongs were committed by both the offending passengers and staff of the airlines involved from all the evidence available to those in the aviation sector 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.”
Keyamo’s states decision made on Emmanson, KWAM 1 cases
In the case of Emmanson and Ibom Airline, Keyamo said, “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.”
The minister also conferred with the leadership of the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) appealed to them to lift the life-time flying ban imposed on her, to which they agreed.
He added that the NCAA has been ordered to reduce KWAM 1’s flight ban to a one-month period.
“FAAN will 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,” he said.
Other resolution reached include:
(f) In the case of Captain Oluranti Ogoyi, and the co-pilot, First Officer Ivan Oloba of VALUEJET, the NCAA is to restore their licenses after the same period of one-month ban after undergoing some mandatory professional re-appraisal. The details will be announced by the NCAA.
Other resolutions include:
6. I have directed all relevant Aviation agencies in collaboration with other complementary agencies outside aviation to immediately begin a retreat next week 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. The retreat will be fully covered by the Press with the opportunity to ask all the relevant questions.
7. 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.
Keyamo noted that 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,” he concluded.
