Sade Williams/Business a.m.
Reprieve came to the rescue of two infractees of a ValuJet and an Ibom Air flights when the federal government directed the management of Ibom Air to withdraw criminal charges against Comfort Emmason who was arrested and jailed for unruly behaviour on its flight.
The government also reduced the six month flight ban on popular Fuji musician, Wasiu Ayinde (KWAM1) to one month. Ayinde was involved in a flight disruption during the take-off of a ValuJet aircraft at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
Festus Keyamo, minister of aviation and aerospace development, in a statement he personally signed, said the decision was taken after due consultation with critical stakeholders.
He said the stakeholders believe that valuable lessons have been learnt from the episodes involving the two personalities, adding that it has helped to raise public awareness about appropriate conduct within the aviation space.
“As highlighted in my previous statements on the last two incidents, clear wrongs were committed by both the offending passengers and staff of the airlines involved from all the evidence available to us and those available to the public. 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.
“Therefore, after reviewing the entire incidents, including appeals made by well-meaning individuals and remorse shown by the actors, the following decisions have been reached:
“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 presence of her lawyer, she exhibited great remorse for her conduct.
“Subsequent to the withdrawal of the complaint by the complainant, the CP of Airport Command and the Police Prosecutor will immediately take the remaining steps to facilitate her release from Kirikiri Prisons within this week,” he said.
Keyamo added that he has also conferred with the leadership of the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) and have appealed to them to lift the life-time flying ban imposed on her, to which they agreed.
“The details of the resolution will be made public by the AON subsequently,” he added.
In the case of KWAM 1, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) is to reduce his flight ban to a one-month period while the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) will also work with the music star with a view to engaging him as an ambassador for proper airport security protocol going forward.
“Having publicly demonstrated penitence, the NCAA is also to withdraw its criminal complaints against KWAM 1 earlier lodged with the Police.
” In the case of Captain Oluranti Ogoyi, and the co-pilot, First Officer Ivan Oloba of Valuejet, the NCAA is to restore their licenses after the same period of one-month ban after undergoing some mandatory professional re-appraisal. The details will be announced by the NCAA.
“I have directed all relevant Aviation agencies in collaboration with other complementary agencies outside aviation to immediately begin a retreat next week to properly retrain and prepare our Aviation security personnel on how to deal with errant and disruptive passengers and how to deescalate potentially explosive situations. The retreat will be fully covered by the Press with the opportunity to ask all the relevant questions. ”
Keyamo added that the Airlines will also have their own session when the conduct and attitude of their staff towards members of the travelling public will be in full focus.
“These above decisions were taken by Government and the airline operators purely on compassionate grounds as Government will never pander to base sentiments, politically-motivated views or warped legal opinions when clear encroachment of our laws are involved.
“We are also sending a clear message that we take safety and security in the aviation sector very seriously and we have decided to draw a line after these clemencies,” he added.
