By Muhammad Mamman
Festus Keyamo, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, has brokered a deal to free Comfort Emmanson, detained after an incident on an Ibom Air flight on 10 August 2025. Following her show of remorse, Ibom Air dropped its complaint, and the Airline Operators of Nigeria lifted her lifetime flight ban, paving the way for her release from Kirikiri Prison this week.
In a separate move, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) reduced Fuji star KWAM 1’s one-year flight ban to one month after consultations. The NCAA will also withdraw its criminal complaint against the musician, who will collaborate with the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria to promote airport security awareness. Pilots Captain Oluranti Ogoyi and First Officer Ivan Oloba of ValueJet will have their licences restored post a one-month suspension and professional reappraisal.
Keyamo emphasised shared responsibility for the incidents, announcing a retreat next week to train aviation staff on managing passenger conflicts. “Safety and security remain paramount, and these clemencies draw a firm line,” he stated.
