Comfort Emmanson, the Ibom Air passenger who was arraigned and remanded at Kirikiri Correctional Centre over alleged unruly behavior during a flight from Uyo to Lagos, has been released.
Magistrate Olanrewaju Salami discharged Emmanson on Wednesday after the five charges against her were struck out following the withdrawal of the case. The release was confirmed by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, who informed Channels Television that “Emmanson has gone home from the court.”
Keyamo explained that the decision followed consultations with key stakeholders in the aviation sector concerning recent incidents involving unruly conduct at Nigerian airports.
Emmanson had been accused of assaulting a flight attendant and confronting security personnel at Lagos airport on Sunday. Following the incident, the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) imposed a lifetime no-fly ban on her. She was arraigned at Ikeja Magistrates’ Court on criminal charges and remanded due to her inability to provide adequate sureties.
While condemning her actions, Minister Keyamo also criticized the circulation of a viral video showing Emmanson with her top torn and upper body exposed, calling for action against Ibom Air officials who leaked the footage.
Her arrest and detention drew widespread criticism from civil society groups, the public, and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), which condemned the handling of the matter by Ibom Air and the AON.
In a reversal, Keyamo revealed that the parties involved had since learned lessons from the incident. He said the episode has helped raise public awareness about airport security protocols.
Following appeals from concerned individuals and expressions of remorse from Emmanson, the minister persuaded Ibom Air to withdraw the complaint against her.
“When the police took her statement in the presence of her lawyer, she showed sincere remorse for her conduct. I have also engaged with the leadership of the Airline Operators of Nigeria, who agreed to lift the lifetime flying ban imposed on her,” Keyamo stated.
The details of the resolution, including the lifting of the ban, are expected to be officially announced by AON in due course.
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