After a week characterised by drama at two of the nation’s international airports in the political capital of Abuja and commercial capital of Lagos, the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, appears to have brokered acceptable, peace deals across board.
He has directed Ibom Air to immediately withdraw its criminal complaint against unruly passenger, Comfort Emmanson.
In a statement released via X (formerly Twitter), the Minister announced the following:
Re: Withdrawal of Criminal Complaint Against Ms. Comfort Emmanson and Related Matters
Over the past 48 hours, I have engaged with key stakeholders in the aviation sector concerning recent incidents involving passenger misconduct at Nigerian airports.
While regrettable, these events have brought valuable lessons to light and underscored the importance of airport security protocols. They’ve also raised public awareness about proper conduct within aviation settings.
As stated in previous communications, both passengers and airline staff were at fault in recent altercations. It is important that all parties acknowledge their roles rather than solely emphasizing their grievances.
After reviewing the incidents, considering public appeals, and the remorse shown, the following actions have been taken:
IBOM AIR vs. MS. COMFORT EMMANSON
Following her disruptive behavior aboard an Ibom Air flight on Sunday, August 10, 2025, and her subsequent expression of remorse during police questioning in the presence of her lawyer, I have instructed Ibom Air to formally withdraw its complaint.
With the complaint withdrawn, the Commissioner of Police, Airport Command, and the Prosecutor will expedite Ms. Emmanson’s release from Kirikiri Prison this week.
Additionally, I have spoken with the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), who have agreed to lift the lifetime flying ban previously imposed on Ms. Emmanson. AON will provide further details soon.
VALUEJET INCIDENT INVOLVING KWAM 1 (Wasiu Ayinde Marshall)
The NCAA will reduce the flight ban on KWAM 1 to one month. In addition, FAAN will engage him to serve as an ambassador for proper airport protocol.
Given his public show of remorse, the NCAA will also withdraw its criminal complaint previously lodged against him.
For VALUEJET crew members—Captain Oluranti Ogoyi and First Officer Ivan Oloba—the NCAA will reinstate their licenses after a one-month suspension and mandatory professional re-evaluation. Further details will be shared by the NCAA.
Aviation Agencies and Airline Conduct
I have directed all aviation-related agencies, in collaboration with relevant government bodies, to hold a retreat next week. This program will focus on retraining security personnel in managing disruptive passengers and de-escalating tense situations. The retreat will be open to the press.
A dedicated session will also address airline staff behavior towards passengers to ensure a more professional and empathetic approach.
Final Remarks
These decisions are made on compassionate grounds. The Government will not yield to political pressure or misguided legal interpretations in matters involving breaches of the law.
Moving forward, this serves as a firm message: safety and security in our aviation sector are non-negotiable, and this will mark a turning point in our enforcement efforts.
While KWAM escaped beheading by the wing of an aircraft as he embarked on a one-man mission of stopping a ValueJet aircraft from taking off after he was prevented from flying for alleged unruly, Emmanson suffered humiliation of been indecently exposed and dragged of a plane following her alleged violent conduct against Ibom Air and airport staff.
Unfortunately for Emmanson, some videos and photos of her emerged to suggest she was not a “spring chicken” as some of her online supporters sought to paint her. The images and videos of her, barely clad and apparently exhibitionist, did not go down well with many online.
Nevertheless, many fiercely backed with a human rights lawyer and social commentator, Mr. Frank Tietie, pushing for crowd-funding for legal representation l.
He posted online his interview with Channel Africa on the issue of the lifetime ban to Emmanson, by the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) and dropped the hint that she could on her own make the choice of her lawyers and sue the airline and AON for billions of Naira in damages.
“And where necessary, I could do a crowdfunding for her defence,” he added.
He directed those interested in listening to his interview to click http://www.channelafrica.co.za/News
