FG Backs Down: Unruly Passenger and Musician Get a Second Chance

By: Olalekan Abudu

The Federal Government has suddenly changed its tune. Just like that, they’ve withdrawn their criminal complaint against Comfort Emmanson, the passenger who went ballistic on an Ibom Air flight. And, in a surprise move, they’ve also reduced the flying ban slapped on KWAM 1, the Fuji music star.

It all happened after Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, had a chat with some bigwigs in the aviation sector. Apparently, they decided to take a more lenient approach after reviewing the incidents and considering the apologies from those involved. Ibom Air has agreed to drop its complaint against Emmanson, who was arrested back in August over the whole ordeal. “She showed remorse when the Police took her statement,” Keyamo said. The Airline Operators of Nigeria has also caved, agreeing to lift the lifetime flying ban on her. Details are still coming.

As for KWAM 1, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority will reduce his ban to just one month. FAAN is even planning to rope him in as an ambassador for airport security protocols. “He’s shown penitence, so we’re willing to give him another chance,” Keyamo stated. The one-month ban will also apply to ValueJet’s Captain Oluranti Ogoyi and First Officer Ivan Oloba, but they’ll get their licenses back after a reappraisal.

It was just another flight from Lagos to Uyo on August 10, 2025. Or so it seemed. Comfort Emmanson’s refusal to turn off her phone sparked a chain reaction that would end in chaos. The situation escalated fast – she got physical with a flight attendant, and before you knew it, Ibom Air had slapped her with a lifetime ban. Ouch.

Around the same time, KWAM 1 was making headlines of his own. On August 5, 2025, he tried to sneak a flask of booze onto a ValueJet flight at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. When staff asked him to hand it over, he allegedly poured the contents all over them. Not exactly the most pleasant experience for the crew and security personnel. To make matters worse, he then proceeded to obstruct the aircraft’s taxiing, causing a major delay.The NCAA wasn’t happy, and they petitioned the police.

Keyamo announced that a retreat is coming up next week to retrain aviation security personnel on handling difficult passengers. Airlines will also get some guidance on how to deal with traveller complaints. The minister made it clear that these clemencies were granted on compassionate grounds, but “we won’t be swayed by public opinion or warped legal opinions when our laws are being flouted.”