In curious twist, Nigerian govt drops criminal case against Emmanson, eases flight ban on KWAM 1
The Federal Government has withdrawn its criminal complaint against Ms. Comfort Emmanson, accused of unruly conduct aboard an Ibom Air flight, and reduced the flight ban imposed on Fuji musician, Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, popularly known as KWAM 1.
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, announced the decisions on Wednesday after consultations with stakeholders in the aviation industry.
According to Keyamo, the resolutions followed a review of the incidents, appeals from concerned individuals, and expressions of remorse by those involved.
He confirmed that Ibom Air has agreed to withdraw its complaint against Ms. Emmanson, who was arrested over an August 10 in-flight disturbance.
“When the Police took her statement in the presence of her lawyer, she exhibited great remorse for her conduct,” the minister said.
Following the withdrawal, the Airport Command and the police prosecutor will initiate steps to secure her release from Kirikiri Prison this week. The Airline Operators of Nigeria has also agreed to lift the lifetime ban previously imposed on her, with further details to be announced.
On the ValueJet incident involving KWAM 1, Keyamo disclosed that the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) will reduce the musician’s ban to one month. He added that the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) intends to engage KWAM 1 as an ambassador for airport security protocols.
“Having publicly demonstrated penitence, the NCAA will withdraw its criminal complaint against KWAM 1,” Keyamo said.
The one-month ban will also apply to ValueJet’s Captain Oluranti Ogoyi and First Officer Ivan Oloba, whose licences will be restored after a mandatory professional reappraisal.
Keyamo further announced that a retreat will be held next week to retrain aviation security personnel on managing disruptive passengers and de-escalating tense situations. Airlines will also participate in dedicated sessions addressing staff conduct towards travellers.
The minister emphasised that the clemencies were granted on compassionate grounds, noting: “Government will never pander to base sentiments, politically motivated views or warped legal opinions when clear encroachment of our laws is involved. We have decided to draw a line after these clemencies.”
BREAKING PRESS STATEMENT:
DECISION TO WITHDRAW CRIMINAL COMPLAINT AGAINST MS. COMFORT EMMANSON AND TO ADDRESS RELATED MATTERS
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
5. 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.
THE CASE OF VALUEJET AND WASIU AYINDE MARSHALL (KWAM 1)
(d) In the case of KWAM 1, the NCAA is to reduce his flight ban to a one-month period. FAAN will also work with the music star with a view to engaging him as an ambassador for proper airport security protocol going forward.
(e) Having publicly demonstrated penitence, the NCAA is also to withdraw its criminal complaints against KWAM 1 earlier lodged with the Police.
(f) 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.
AIRLINE OPERATORS, AVIATION AND OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCIES
6. 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.
7. 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.
FINAL COMMENTS
8. 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.
9. 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.
FESTUS KEYAMO, SAN, CON, FCIArb (UK)
Hon. Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development
Wednesday, August 13, 2025
