FG Withdraws Criminal Charges Against Ibom Air Passenger Comfort Emmanson, Reduces KWAM 1’s Flight Ban to One Month

RYNI News | Omotayo Stephen . O
13 August 2025

In a dramatic turn of events that has seized public attention, the Federal Government has moved decisively to douse two raging tempests in Nigeria’s aviation sector — ordering the release of detained Ibom Air passenger, Comfort Emmanson, and slashing the flight ban imposed on Fuji music icon, Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, widely known as KWAM 1.

The announcement came on Wednesday from the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, following high-level consultations with aviation stakeholders and a careful review of the incidents that had sparked national debate.

Emmanson’s case stemmed from a heated confrontation aboard an Ibom Air flight from Lagos to Uyo on August 10, 2025, when she allegedly refused to turn off her mobile phone during take-off preparations. Matters escalated when she struck a flight attendant, leading to her forcible removal from the aircraft, subsequent arrest, and incarceration at Kirikiri Prison. The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) responded with a lifetime flying ban, citing its zero-tolerance stance on violence.

Keyamo revealed that Emmanson displayed “genuine remorse” during police questioning in the presence of her lawyer — a key factor in the airline’s decision to withdraw its complaint. The AON also agreed to lift the lifetime ban, with formal release procedures now underway. “This is not an endorsement of misconduct,” Keyamo stressed, “but an acknowledgement that contrition deserves a second chance.”

The minister’s peace-making extended to the case of KWAM 1, whose August 5, 2025 altercation at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, had made headlines. The Fuji legend was accused of refusing to surrender a prohibited flask — allegedly containing alcohol — before boarding a ValueJet flight. Witnesses claimed he poured its contents on crew and security staff, then proceeded onto the tarmac, disrupting aircraft movements.

Initially, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) handed him a one-year ban and lodged a criminal complaint. But on Wednesday, Keyamo announced a reduced penalty of just one month, coupled with an innovative resolution: FAAN will enlist KWAM 1 as an ambassador for airport security awareness, transforming the incident into a platform for positive advocacy.

The leniency also extends to ValueJet’s Captain Oluranti Ogoyi and First Officer Ivan Oloba, both suspended over the same incident. Their licenses will be restored after serving the same one-month ban and completing a professional reappraisal programme.

Keyamo used the moment to highlight a shared responsibility between passengers and airline staff. “No party in these disputes is entirely without blame,” he remarked. “We must all embrace civility and accountability if we are to keep our skies safe and our airports calm.”

To prevent future flare-ups, the ministry will convene a retreat next week for aviation and security agencies to sharpen skills in de-escalating conflicts. Airlines will also review the behaviour of frontline staff towards travellers.

“These acts of clemency draw a line under two turbulent episodes,” Keyamo concluded, “but they reaffirm that safety and respect remain the non-negotiable cornerstones of our aviation sector.”

For now, the storms have passed — and Nigeria’s skies may once again promise smoother journeys.

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