The Federal Government and Nigerian airline operators
have agreed to lift the lifetime flying ban imposed on Ibom Air passenger
Comfort Emmanson, while also reducing the suspension of Fuji music icon Wasiu
Ayinde Marshal (popularly known as KWAM 1) to one month.
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus
Keyamo, announced the resolution in a statement on Wednesday via his official X
account, saying it followed consultations with aviation stakeholders, appeals
from concerned individuals, and expressions of remorse from both passengers.
Comfort Emmanson’s Release from Prison
Emmanson has been held at Kirikiri Prison since August 10, 2025, after an
incident aboard an Ibom Air flight. According to Keyamo, Ibom Air has now
withdrawn its criminal complaint against her, and the Airline Operators of
Nigeria (AON) has agreed to lift her lifetime flying ban. She is expected to be
released within the week.
“When the police took her statement in the presence of
her lawyer, she exhibited great remorse for her conduct,” Keyamo said.
“Following the airline’s withdrawal of its complaint, the police will
immediately take steps to facilitate her release from Kirikiri Prisons this
week.”
KWAM 1’s Suspension Cut Short
In a separate case, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) will shorten
KWAM 1’s suspension to one month and drop its complaint. The ban had been
imposed after a ValueJet flight he was on taxied with people on the runway.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) will
also appoint the veteran musician as an ambassador for airport security
protocol to help promote safe conduct at airports.
Pilots to Undergo Reappraisal
Keyamo confirmed that the licences of the ValueJet flight crew involved in the
incident — Captain Oluranti Ogoyi and First Officer Ivan Oloba — will be
restored after serving the same one-month suspension. They will also be
required to undergo a mandatory professional reappraisal before resuming
duties.
Compassion Without Compromise
The minister stressed that the decisions were made on compassionate grounds and
should not be seen as a relaxation of safety standards.
“These measures do not in any way signal a soft stance
on aviation misconduct. Safety and security remain top priorities for the
government and the industry,” he said.
The AON is expected to release more details on the
lifted ban in the coming days.
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