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Summary
Ibom Air is to drop criminal charges against their passenger Comfort Emmason, the police are to release her from Kirikiri, and the Airline Operators of Nigeria are to lift the lifetime ban against her. Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo announced this resolution through a press release on his X platform.
The Federal Government, through the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, has issued a press statement announcing new resolutions concerning Ms. Comfort Emmanson.
Recall that after the altercation with Ibom Airline officials, Ms Comfort Emmanson was remanded in Kirikiri, and an indefinite air ban was imposed. Following Naija Feminists Media’s demands for recourse and other Nigerians’ outcry, Festus released a press statement on August 13, 2025, stating that he had consulted with stakeholders and that the punishments had been reviewed.
He stated that the airline will withdraw the complaint against Comfort because “when the Police took her statement in the presence of her lawyer, she exhibited great remorse for her conduct.”
Consequently, the Airport Command Commissioner of Police and the Police Prosecutor will immediately take the remaining steps to facilitate her release from Kirikiri Prisons within this week.
The aviation minister also revealed that he appealed to the leadership of the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) to lift the lifetime flying ban imposed on her, to which they agreed. AON will make further details public.
Festus shared that these actions are intended to send a clear message that the government take safety and security in the aviation sector very seriously, and has decided to draw a line after these clemencies.
“We think all sides have learned valuable lessons from these incidents, and airport security protocol, especially, has been well highlighted for the travelling public. If nothing else, the episodes have undoubtedly helped to raise public awareness about appropriate conduct within the aviation space,” the aviation minister said.
