The Federal Government has withdrawn its criminal complaint against Ms. Comfort Emmanson, the Ibom Air passenger accused of unruly behaviour, and reduced the flight ban on Fuji legend Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, popularly known as KWAM 1.
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, announced the decisions on Wednesday after consultations with aviation stakeholders and consideration of appeals from concerned Nigerians. He said both cases were reviewed in light of the remorse shown by those involved.
Ibom Air has agreed to drop its complaint against Ms. Emmanson, who was arrested on August 10, 2025, after allegedly refusing to switch off her phone, assaulting a flight attendant, and being removed from a Lagos–Uyo flight. Following her apology, the Airport Command will work to secure her release from Kirikiri Prison, and the Airline Operators of Nigeria will lift her lifetime ban.
On KWAM 1’s case, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) will cut his flight ban to one month. The Fuji star had been sanctioned for a disruption at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on August 5, 2025, after refusing to surrender a prohibited flask, allegedly pouring its contents on staff, and obstructing an aircraft’s movement. The NCAA will also withdraw its criminal complaint, while the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) plans to appoint him as an airport security protocol ambassador.
ValueJet’s Captain Oluranti Ogoyi and First Officer Ivan Oloba, also penalised over the incident, will have their licenses restored after a professional reappraisal.
Keyamo announced a retreat next week to retrain aviation security personnel on handling disruptive passengers and improving airline–passenger relations, stressing that the clemency was granted purely on compassionate grounds.
