By Obinna Uballa
The Federal Government has withdrawn its criminal complaint against Ms. Comfort Emmanson, the passenger involved in a recent altercation with a crew member aboard an Ibom Air flight, and directed the lifting of the life-time ban earlier imposed on her by airline operators.
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, announced the decision in a statement on Wednesday, saying it followed consultations with stakeholders in the aviation sector and appeals from well-meaning Nigerians.
Emmanson, who was remanded in Kirikiri Prison after being accused of slapping an Ibom Air purser on August 10, reportedly expressed remorse during police interrogation in the presence of her lawyer.
Keyamo said Ibom Air had agreed to withdraw its complaint, while the Commissioner of Police, Airport Command, and the police prosecutor would take immediate steps to secure her release this week.
The Minister added that he had engaged the leadership of the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) to lift the lifetime flight ban on her, with details of the resolution to be announced by the association.
In a related development, the government has also reduced the flight ban on Fuji music star Wasiu Ayinde Marshall, popularly known as KWAM 1, from an indefinite period to one month. The ban followed an incident involving ValueJet staff. Keyamo said the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) would also withdraw its criminal complaint against the singer, and partner with him as an ambassador for proper airport security protocol.
Similarly, the one-month suspension of ValueJet’s Captain Oluranti Ogoyi and co-pilot First Officer Ivan Oloba will remain in place, after which their licences will be restored upon completion of a mandatory professional re-appraisal, the Minister said.
Keyamo directed all aviation and relevant government agencies to begin a retreat next week to retrain security personnel on handling disruptive passengers and de-escalating conflicts. Airlines will also have a separate session focused on improving staff conduct towards travellers.
While stressing that the decisions were taken on compassionate grounds, Keyamo warned that government would not compromise on safety and security.
“We have decided to draw a line after these clemencies,” he said. “Safety and security in the aviation sector are non-negotiable.”
