By Abubakar Yunusa
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has directed the release of an Ibom Air passenger who was jailed for unruly conduct.
In a statement posted on his social media handle on Wednesday, Keyamo confirmed that the government intervened in the case of Ms Comfort Emmanson, who had been held at Kirikiri Prisons following a confrontation aboard an Ibom Air flight on Sunday, 10 August 2025.
The minister said he had reached an agreement with Ibom Air to withdraw its complaint after Emmanson expressed “great remorse” during a police interview conducted in the presence of her lawyer.
He said “Following the airline’s decision, the Commissioner of Police for the Airport Command and the police prosecutor will take immediate steps to secure her release within the week.”
Keyamo also revealed that the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) had agreed to lift the lifetime ban imposed on Emmanson. Details of the resolution will be announced later by the AON.
“This decision was taken purely on compassionate grounds,” the minister said. “Government will never compromise safety and security in the aviation sector.”
He stressed that the clemency granted in this case should not be interpreted as tolerance for disruptive behaviour on flights, warning that a tougher stance would be taken in the future.