The Federal Government has officially dropped the criminal case against Ms. Comfort Emmanson, the passenger previously accused of disruptive behaviour on an Ibom Air flight. Additionally, the lifetime flight ban on renowned Fuji musician, Wasiu Ayinde Marshal (popularly known as KWAM 1), has been reduced.

The announcements were made by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, following discussions with aviation sector stakeholders.

According to the minister, both decisions were based on reviews of the incidents, appeals from concerned individuals, and the sincere remorse shown by those involved.

Keyamo stated that Ibom Air agreed to withdraw its complaint against Ms. Emmanson, who had been arrested in connection with the August 10 incident. He noted that she showed deep regret while giving her statement to the Police in the presence of her lawyer.

In light of this, efforts are underway by the Airport Command and the police prosecutor to facilitate her release from Kirikiri Prison within the week. The Airline Operators of Nigeria has also decided to lift the lifetime flight ban placed on her, with further details to be disclosed soon.

Regarding the ValueJet incident involving KWAM 1, the minister revealed that the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) will reduce his flying ban to one month. The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) also plans to appoint the musician as an ambassador for airport security awareness.

“Since he has shown public remorse, the NCAA will also withdraw the criminal case against him,” Keyamo added.

The one-month suspension will equally apply to ValueJet’s Captain Oluranti Ogoyi and First Officer Ivan Oloba, whose licenses will be reinstated after undergoing mandatory professional evaluations.

Keyamo further announced a scheduled retreat for next week aimed at retraining aviation security personnel on how to manage unruly passengers and defuse tense situations. Airlines will also participate in special sessions focused on staff conduct and interactions with passengers.

He emphasized that the leniency granted was purely on humanitarian grounds, stating:

“The government will not yield to biased sentiments, political pressure, or misinformed legal opinions when there is a clear breach of law. These clemencies mark a closure on the matters.”