Just In: Court discharges Ibom Air ‘unruly passenger’ Comfort Emmanson

By Ayorinde Oluokun/Abuja

Ms. Comfort Emmanson, the passenger who was remanded in Kirikiri prison after she was arraigned for assaulting a a staff Ibom Air regained her freedom on Wednesday.

Emmanson was freed at a brief hearing by Magistrate Olanrewaju Salami of the Samuel Ilori Courthouse, Ogba, Lagos.

The Magistrate dismissed the case filed against her following the decision of the Lagos Airport Police Command to withdraw the charges unconditionally.

The prosecutor, Inspector Olubunmi Adeitan told the court the withdrawal was based on new facts presented to the police command after Monday’s arraignment. The defence counsel did not oppose the position of the prosecution.

In his ruling, Magistrate Salami struck out the charges.

The Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo had earlier on Wednesday directed withdrawal of criminal complaint against Emmanson who was accused of unruly conduct aboard Ibom airline on Aug. 10.

Keyamo in a statement posted on his official X handle, @fkeyamo said the directive followed the remorse of exhibited by the passenger over her conduct.

The Minister based his action on appeals made by well-meaning individuals and remorse shown by the passenger.

“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.

“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,“ he said.

Keyamo said, he had also conferred with the leadership of the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) and had appealed to them to lift the life-time flying ban imposed on her, to which they agreed.

FGA/DE/ROT