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FG grants Kwam 1, Emmanson clemency, drop charges in airport misconduct

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has announced the withdrawal of criminal complaints in recent high-profile incidents involving unruly behaviour at Nigerian airports, citing compassionate grounds and lessons learnt by all parties.

In a statement on Wednesday, Keyamo said consultations with stakeholders in the aviation sector led to decisions affecting Ms. Comfort Emmanson, Ibom Air, music icon Wasiu Ayinde Marshall (KWAM 1), and crew members of ValueJet.

For Emmanson, who was arrested after an incident aboard an Ibom Air flight on August 10, 2025, Keyamo said Ibom Air agreed to drop its complaint after she showed “great remorse.”

Police have been directed to facilitate her release from Kirikiri Prison this week, while the Airline Operators of Nigeria will lift her lifetime flying ban.

In KWAM 1’s case, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) reduced his flight ban to one month and withdrew its criminal complaint.

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria will also engage him as an ambassador for proper airport security conduct.

Similarly, ValueJet’s Captain Oluranti Ogoyi and First Officer Ivan Oloba will have their licenses restored after serving a one-month ban and undergoing mandatory professional reappraisal.

Keyamo said: “In the case of the unruly passenger, Ms. Comfort Emmanson, on the Ibom Airline on Sunday, the 10th of August, 2025, I have conferred with Ibom Airline to withdraw the Complaint against her today. When the Police took her Statement in presence of her lawyer, she exhibited great remorse for her conduct.

“Subsequent to the withdrawal of the complaint by the Complainant, the CP of Airport Command and the Police Prosecutor will immediately take the remaining steps to facilitate her release from Kirikiri Prisons within this week.

“I have also conferred with the leadership of the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) and have appealed to them to lift the life-time flying ban imposed on her, to which they agreed. The details of the resolution will be made public by the AON subsequently.

“In the case of KWAM 1, the NCAA is to reduce his flight ban to a one-month period. FAAN will also work with the music star with a view to engaging him as an ambassador for proper airport security protocol going forward.

“Having publicly demonstrated penitence, the NCAA is also to withdraw its criminal complaints against KWAM 1 earlier lodged with the Police.

“In the case of Captain Oluranti Ogoyi, and the co-pilot, First Officer Ivan Oloba of VALUEJET, the NCAA is to restore their licenses after the same period of one-month ban after undergoing some mandatory professional re-appraisal. The details will be announced by the NCAA.”

Keyamo also directed aviation agencies to begin a retreat next week to retrain security personnel on handling disruptive passengers and de-escalating tense situations.

Airlines will hold internal sessions to address staff conduct toward passengers.

“These decisions were taken purely on compassionate grounds,” Keyamo stressed, adding that safety and security in the aviation sector remain paramount.

“We have decided to draw a line after these clemencies,” he said.