The Federal Government has withdrawn its criminal complaint against Ms Comfort Emmanson, the Ibom Air passenger accused of unruly conduct, and reduced the flight ban imposed on Fuji music star, Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, popularly known as KWAM 1.
In a statement on Wednesday, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, said the decisions followed consultations with key stakeholders in the aviation sector, including airline operators and security agencies, as well as appeals from well-meaning Nigerians.
Ms Emmanson, who had been remanded at Kirikiri Prisons after an incident aboard an Ibom Air flight on 10 August, was said to have shown “great remorse” when giving her statement to police in the presence of her lawyer. Ibom Air has now withdrawn its complaint, paving the way for her release this week. The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) has also agreed to lift her lifetime flying ban, with details to be announced later.
For KWAM 1, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) will reduce his ban to one month and drop its criminal complaint against him. The music star will also be engaged as an ambassador for proper airport security protocol. Similarly, ValueJet pilots Captain Oluranti Ogoyi and First Officer Ivan Oloba will have their licences restored after serving the same one-month suspension and undergoing mandatory professional reappraisal.
Mr Keyamo said the government’s clemency was granted on “compassionate grounds” and stressed that both passengers and airline staff bore responsibility for the incidents. He announced that a retreat will be held next week to retrain aviation security personnel on de-escalation techniques and to review airline staff conduct towards travellers.
“This is a clear message that while we take safety and security in the aviation sector very seriously, we have decided to draw a line after these clemencies,” the minister said.