FG orders withdrawal of case against Ibom Air passenger, lifts ban
The Federal Government has ordered the withdrawal of the case against Comfort Emmanson, a passenger on an Ibom Air flight on August 10, 2025.
The decision comes after Emmanson was remanded in prison following a widely condemned incident.
According to a statement from the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, the move was made after consulting with key stakeholders in the aviation industry and those involved in recent “unruly behaviours of certain individuals at our airports.”
Neptune Prime reported that Emmanson had allegedly attacked a flight attendant and clashed with security personnel at the airport.
This led to her being arraigned and remanded at the Kirikiri Correctional Centre in Lagos on Monday.
READ ALSO: Ibom Air bans passenger after violent assault on crew, staff (Video)
The minister initially condemned Emmanson’s actions in a post on his X page, confirming she had been charged in court and remanded because she failed to provide adequate sureties.
However, he also criticised the circulation of a viral, indecent video that showed Emmanson with her top torn and her upper body exposed, and he ordered action against the Ibom Air officials who leaked the footage.
Emmanson’s imprisonment sparked outrage from civil society groups and the public, including the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), which criticised Ibom Air and the Airline Operators of Nigeria for their handling of the situation.
READ ALSO: Airline operators ban passenger for life, jailed after assaulting flight crew
On Wednesday, Keyamo reversed his position, stating that all parties involved had learned valuable lessons. He also noted that the incident had raised public awareness of airport security protocols.
“In the last 48 hours, I have 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 in recent,” his statement read.
“Though regrettable, we think valuable lessons have been learnt by all sides to these incidents and airport security protocol, especially, have been well highlighted for the travelling public.
If nothing at all, the episodes have undoubtedly helped to raise public awareness about appropriate conduct within the aviation space.”
The minister added that clear wrongs were committed by both the passenger and the airline staff. “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,” he said.
READ ALSO: Police to probe Fuji star KWAM1 for alleged misconduct at airport
Following these deliberations and “appeals made by well-meaning individuals and remorse shown by the actors,” Keyamo announced he had prevailed upon Ibom Air to withdraw the complaint against Emmanson.
“In the case of the unruly passenger, Ms. Comfort Emmanson, on the Ibom Airline on Sunday, the 10th of August, 2025, I have conferred with Ibom Airline to withdraw the complaint against her today.
When the Police took her Statement in the presence of her lawyer, she exhibited great remorse for her conduct.”
Keyamo confirmed that Emmanson would be released from Kirikiri prison immediately and that the lifetime flying ban imposed on her would also be lifted.
“I have also conferred with the leadership of the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) and have appealed to them to lift the lifetime flying ban imposed on her, to which they agreed,” he stated.
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