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By Oscar Okhifo
The Federal Government has ordered the withdrawal of criminal cases and eased sanctions against Comfort Emmanson, the female passenger at the centre of a dramatic Ibom Air incident, and Fuji music legend, Wasiu Ayinde, popularly known as KWAM 1, over separate episodes of unruly conduct in the aviation sector.
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, announced on Wednesday that Ibom Air has formally withdrawn its complaint against Emmanson, who has been remanded in Kirikiri Prison since August 10 following a violent altercation with crew members on a Uyo–Lagos flight.
It is worth recalling that, Emmanson’s troubles began when she allegedly refused to obey instructions to switch off her mobile phone before take-off.
Tensions flared again on arrival in Lagos when she reportedly assaulted the flight purser , stepping on her, tearing off her wig and glasses, slapping her and also slapped another crew member who tried to intervene.
She was further accused of attempting to use a fire extinguisher as a weapon before being restrained, dragged down the aircraft and handed over to security personnel.
Ibom Air promptly placed a lifetime ban on her, a decision reinforced by the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), and she was arraigned before a Lagos magistrate court and remanded in custody.
The incident sparked nationwide debate after videos and photos of her surfaced online. Many Nigerians, including the Minister of Aviation and Aero Space Development Festus Keyamo, describing them as “indecent and unacceptable”. Many rights groups accused the authorities of humiliation and double standards compared to other recent aviation cases.
Just days earlier, on August 5, KWAM 1 was involved in an altercation with ValueJet staff in Abuja over a flask he carried aboard, which crew suspected contained alcohol. In the confrontation, he allegedly poured the contents on staff, obstructed the aircraft on the tarmac, and delayed take-off.
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) slammed him with a six-month no-fly ban and filed a criminal complaint, while suspending the pilots involved.
The singer later issued a public apology, insisting the flask contained water for medical reasons, and pleaded for forgiveness from aviation authorities and Nigerians.
Keyamo said the decisions to ease sanctions were taken on compassionate grounds, stressing that the safety and security of the aviation sector remain paramount but that reconciliation was also important.
For Emmanson, the withdrawal of Ibom Air’s complaint means she will be released from Kirikiri Prison within the week, and the AON’s lifetime ban on her flights has been lifted.
The action of government, especially the pardon of Emmanson and her imminent release from prison, will gladden many hearts , particularly the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and other Nigerians who had described her imprisonment and humiliation as overkill.
For KWAM 1, his ban has been reduced from six months to one month, and the NCAA has dropped its criminal case against him.
Keyamo added that the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) is considering engaging the Fuji star as an ambassador for airport security protocol awareness.
The suspended ValueJet pilots, Captain Oluranti Ogoyi and First Officer Ivan Oloba, will also have their licences restored after serving a one-month suspension and completing a mandatory professional re-appraisal.
Keyamo maintained that the moves should not be interpreted as condoning bad behaviour, but as a fair resolution that balances justice, safety, and the need for reconciliation in Nigeria’s aviation industry.