The Federal Government has ordered the withdrawal of the case against Comfort Emmanson, the passenger involved in a controversial incident aboard an Ibom Air flight on August 10, 2025.
The directive followed her remand at the Kirikiri Correctional Centre in Lagos after she was arraigned for allegedly assaulting a flight attendant and clashing with security officials at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, confirmed the decision in a statement released on Wednesday. He said the move followed consultations with key stakeholders in the aviation sector and was driven by a broader assessment of recent incidents involving unruly passenger behaviour at Nigerian airports.
“Though regrettable, we believe valuable lessons have been learned by all parties. These events have helped highlight the importance of airport security protocols and proper conduct while travelling,” Keyamo said.
He acknowledged that both the passengers and airline staff involved in recent incidents had committed infractions, stressing that no side could claim innocence without acknowledging its own role.
Keyamo also condemned the circulation of a viral video showing Emmanson partially exposed during the altercation. He confirmed that he had directed that disciplinary action be taken against the Ibom Air officials responsible for leaking the footage.
Public backlash had mounted following Emmanson’s remand, with civil society groups and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) criticising both Ibom Air and the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) for what they described as a disproportionate and unfair response.
“In the case of Ms. Comfort Emmanson, I have conferred with Ibom Air, and they have agreed to withdraw their complaint. When her statement was taken in the presence of her lawyer, she showed deep remorse,” Keyamo said.
He added that the Commissioner of Police for the Airport Command and the Police Prosecutor would now take steps to secure Emmanson’s release from Kirikiri prison within the week.
In addition, Keyamo confirmed that he had appealed to the leadership of the AON to lift the lifetime flight ban imposed on her. The airline body has agreed, and further details of the resolution are expected to be made public by the AON.
The minister concluded by noting that while the incident was unfortunate, it had served as a critical moment for public education on expected behaviour in aviation spaces, as well as the need for fair and humane handling of disputes.
