Detained Ibom Air passenger, Comfort Emmanson, to be released this week- Keyamo
Travel ban on KWAM 1 reduced to one month, to be appointed ambassador
The Ibom Air passenger in the viral altercation with airport officials, Comfort Emmanson, is to be released within the week after the charges laid against her were withdrawn.
The travel ban slapped on singer King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal (KWAM 1) has also been reduced to only one month.
These developments were announced by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, this morning, August 13, 2025.
The minister, in a statement, said he had held consultations with critical stakeholders in the Aviation Sector and those involved in the recent viral airport drama in Abuja and Lagos.
In the Lagos incident, the minister said he had conferred with Ibom Air to withdraw its case against Ms. Comfort Emmanson, who was captured on camera assaulting Ibom Airline staff members on Sunday, the 10th of August, 2025.
Keyamo said when the police took her statement in the presence of her lawyer, she showed remorse for her embarrassing conduct.
He also said the CP of Airport Command and the Police Prosecutor would take steps to facilitate her release from Kirikiri Prisons this week.
Keyamo said he had appealed to the leadership of the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) to lift the lifetime flying ban imposed on Emmanson.
In the Abuja incident involving KWAM 1, Keyamo said the NCAA will reduce his flight ban to a one-month period.
The minister said FAAN would also work with KWAM to engage him as an ambassador for proper airport security protocol.
He said criminal complaints filed against him would also be withdrawn by the NCAA. Keyamo said the licences of the two pilots of ValueJet, Captain Oluranti Ogoyi, and the co-pilot, First Officer Ivan Oloba, will be restored after one month
They will, however, undergo a mandatory professional reappraisal.
The minister ordered aviation agencies to begin a retreat next week to properly retrain and prepare aviation security personnel for dealing with unruly passengers and de-escalating potentially explosive situations.
He said the airlines would also have their own session where the conduct and attitude of their staff towards members of the travelling public would be discussed.
The minister said useful lessons had been learnt by all sides in the incidents. He also added that the decisions taken were based on compassionate grounds and not influenced by the sentiments expressed in the media.
