The Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, has directed Ibom Air to withdraw it’s criminal complaint against unruly passenger, Comfort Emmanson.
News360 INfo recalls that viral clips on social media captured an enraged Emmanson attacking flight attendants on board and confronting airport security officials.
Ibom Air stated that the incident occurred shortly before takeoff from Uyo, when the passenger refused to comply with standard aviation safety procedures, which required her to switch off her mobile phone.
According to Ibom Air, upon arrival in Lagos, Emmanson confronted the purser who had earlier instructed her to turn off her phone and physically assaulted her.
Airport security and officials of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria intervened, forcing her off the tarmac after she refused to leave voluntarily.
Her shirt was torn in the struggle, leaving her breasts exposed, before she was handed over to the police and reported to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority.
Ibom Air and AON subsequently slammed a life time ‘no fly’ ban on Comfort.
In a statement on Wednesday morning, Keyamo said he has conferred with Ibom Airline to withdraw the Complaint against her, adding that when the Police took her Statement in presence of her lawyer, she exhibited great remorse for her conduct.
He stated that after the withdrawal 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.
His statement read: “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 of recent.
“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.
“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:
THE CASE OF IBOM AIRLINE AND MS. COMFORT EMMANSON
(a) 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.
(b) 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.
(c) I have 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.”