JUST IN: Keyamo Orders Withdrawal of Criminal Charges Against Comfort Emmanson, Reduces KWAM 1’s Flight Ban to One Month

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo (SAN), has announced sweeping resolutions to two recent high-profile disputes in the Nigerian aviation sector, resulting in the withdrawal of criminal complaints and the reduction of sanctions for those involved.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, August 13, 2025, Keyamo revealed that he had spent the last 48 hours in consultations with critical stakeholders in the aviation sector and others directly connected to the incidents, which involved unruly behaviour by passengers at Nigerian airports. He noted that while the events were regrettable, they had brought valuable lessons for all parties concerned and had raised public awareness about appropriate conduct within the aviation space.

Addressing the case of Ms. Comfort Emmanson, who was arrested on August 10 aboard an Ibom Air flight for disorderly conduct, Keyamo stated that he had conferred with Ibom Air and secured their agreement to withdraw the criminal complaint against her. He disclosed that during the police statement process, in the presence of her lawyer, Emmanson had shown great remorse for her actions. Following the withdrawal, the Commissioner of Police for Airport Command and the Police Prosecutor will take immediate steps to facilitate her release from Kirikiri Prisons within the week. Keyamo further revealed that he had engaged with the leadership of the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) to appeal for the lifting of the lifetime flying ban previously imposed on her, an appeal which the AON accepted. Details of the resolution will be made public by the AON in due course.

On the matter involving popular Fuji musician Wasiu Ayinde Marshall, known as KWAM 1, Keyamo announced that the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) had agreed to reduce his flight ban to one month. The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) will also collaborate with the artist, with plans to appoint him as an ambassador for proper airport security protocol. In addition, the NCAA will withdraw its earlier criminal complaint against KWAM 1.

For ValueJet’s Captain Oluranti Ogoyi and First Officer Ivan Oloba, whose licenses were suspended following their involvement in one of the incidents, the NCAA will restore their licenses after a one-month ban, provided they complete a mandatory professional reappraisal. The details of this process will be released by the NCAA.

Keyamo also directed all relevant aviation agencies, in collaboration with security and regulatory bodies outside the aviation sector, to commence a retreat next week aimed at retraining aviation security personnel on how to handle disruptive passengers and de-escalate potentially explosive situations. The retreat will be fully covered by the press to ensure transparency. Furthermore, airlines will conduct their own internal sessions focused on the behaviour and attitude of staff toward members of the travelling public.

The minister emphasised that these decisions were taken purely on compassionate grounds, stressing that the government would never allow political sentiments, public pressure, or warped legal opinions to override the enforcement of the law when clear violations occur. He concluded by sending a strong message that while clemency has been granted in these cases, the government takes safety and security in the aviation sector extremely seriously and will not tolerate further infractions.