- She was swiftly arraigned before a court and subsequently remanded in prison for two months. She was also placed on a no-fly list for life by airline operators in the country
The Federal Government has ordered the withdrawal of criminal complaints against Comfort Emmanson, the lady at the centre of the airport furore involving Ibom Airline.
Recall that Emmanson made headlines on Monday after she was accused of assaulting a crew member of the airline on Sunday. In a viral video, Emmanson was captured being dragged out of the aircraft with the white top she was wearing torn, leaving her breasts exposed.
She was swiftly arraigned before a court and subsequently remanded in prison for two months. She was also placed on a no-fly list for life by airline operators in the country.
The handling of the incident has sparked widespread outrage and condemnation, with many highlighting the bias and selectivity that characterised the matter.
She compared her treatment to that of the legendary Fuji artiste, King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, who committed a worse crime but did not face any prosecution or punitive punishment.
But in a surprising turn around, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, said the case against Emmanson by Ibom Airline will be withdrawn.
He also said the police will commence the immediate process of releasing the passenger from prison, and the no-fly ban imposed on her will be reversed.
The decision followed a review of what transpired during the incident and appeals made by well-meaning individuals and remorse shown by the actors, Keyamo said in a statement on Wednesday.
He said, “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.
“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.
“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. The details of the resolution will be made public by AON subsequently”
Keyamo also disclosed that all personnel of relevant aviation agencies must undergo a restraining exercise that will equip them with skills on how to deal with irate passengers.
“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 de-escalate potentially explosive situations. The retreat will be fully covered by the Press with the opportunity to ask all the relevant questions.
The Airlines will also have their own session, where the conduct and attitude of their staff towards members of the travelling public will be in full focus.” He said.
Keyamo noted that these decisions were taken by the government and the airline operators purely on Compassionate grounds as the Government will never pander to base sentiments, politically-motivated views or warped legal opinions when clear encroachment of our laws is involved.
He also reiterated the commitment of the government to taking “safety and security in the aviation sector very seriously and we have decided to draw a line after these clemencies”