Abuja, Nigeria — August 13, 2025 | Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has stepped into the controversy surrounding Comfort Emmanson, a female passenger accused of assaulting a flight attendant during an Ibom Air domestic flight.
Emmanson, who was arrested and remanded at Kirikiri Correctional Centre following a petition by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), is facing charges of unruly conduct and interference with safe aircraft operations. The case has stirred public attention, with many weighing in on the balance between aviation safety and compassionate justice.
Keyamo has appealed directly to Ibom Air to withdraw its legal action and urged the Inspector-General of Police to expedite Emmanson’s release. While reaffirming the aviation industry’s commitment to discipline and safety, the minister stressed that the dispute could be resolved amicably, describing an out-of-court settlement as “fair and humane.”
The final outcome now rests on the airline’s position and judicial procedures, as industry stakeholders and the public await to see whether the minister’s intervention will bring a swift end to the legal battle.
