Court frees Ibom Air passenger, Emmanson, after withdrawal of charges

A magistrate court in Ikeja has struck out the charges filed against Comfort Emmanson, the passenger who was accused of assaulting airline officials on an Ibom Air flight from Uyo to Lagos.

Olanrenwaju Salami, the presiding magistrate, discharged Emmanson on Wednesday after the police withdrew the five-count charge.

During the court proceedings, Olubunmi Adeitan, the police prosecutor, said the police decided to withdraw the charges following the discovery of new facts.

Adams Otakpe, counsel to Emmanson, did not object to the withdrawal of the charges.

After the position of the counsel, Salami struck out the five-count charge against Emmanson.

On Monday, the police command at the Lagos Airport charged Emmanson to court over alleged assault during the incident involving her and Ibom Air officials at the airport.

Subsequently, Emmanson was remanded in Kirikiri correctional facility.

Earlier on Wednesday, Festus Keyamo, minister of aviation and aerospace development, said Emmanson would be released this week, noting that the complaints against her have been withdrawn.

Keyamo added that the Airlines Operators of Nigeria (AON) has agreed to lift the lifetime ban placed on her.

BACKGROUND

On Sunday, videos shared on X showed an enraged Emmanson attacking a flight attendant on an Ibom Air plane and confronting airport security officials.

Afterwards, Ibom Air imposed a travel restriction on the passenger for her conduct.

The AON also placed Emmanson on its “no‑fly” list for life over what it described as “one of the most severe cases of unruly behaviour witnessed this year”.