Abuja, Nigeria — Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has successfully intervened to secure the release of Ms. Comfort Emmanson, the Ibom Air passenger recently remanded in Kirikiri Prison over alleged unruly conduct.
Keyamo, in a statement on Wednesday, revealed he persuaded Ibom Air to withdraw the criminal complaint after Emmanson expressed remorse during police questioning in the presence of her lawyer. The minister said this decision was taken on compassionate grounds, alongside other measures aimed at restoring professionalism and fairness in the aviation sector.
The minister confirmed that the Commissioner of Police at the Airport Command, alongside the Police Prosecutor, will work immediately to facilitate Emmanson’s release this week. Additionally, the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) agreed to lift her lifetime flying ban following Keyamo’s appeal.
Keyamo also addressed the earlier ValueJet incident involving popular musician Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, known as KWAM 1. The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) will reduce his flight ban to one month and withdraw its criminal complaint, while the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) will engage him as an airport protocol ambassador.
Regarding ValueJet’s Captain Oluranti Ogoyi and First Officer Ivan Oloba, the NCAA will restore their licenses after a one-month suspension and mandatory professional re-appraisal. Keyamo stressed the need for immediate retraining of aviation security personnel to handle disruptive passengers professionally and de-escalate potential conflicts.
The minister emphasized that while compassion guided these decisions, the government remains committed to enforcing aviation laws strictly. He said the resolutions mark a turning point in addressing airline-passenger disputes, improving service delivery, and enhancing public trust in Nigeria’s aviation sector.
