Court Strikes out Charges Against Passenger Accused of Unruly Behaviour on Ibom Air Flight

Wale Igbintade

An Ikeja Magistrates’ Court has struck out all charges against Miss Comfort Emmanson, the passenger accused of unruly behaviour and assault aboard an Ibom Air flight from Uyo to Lagos on Sunday.

Magistrate Olanrewaju Salami discharged Emmanson after the police withdrew the five-count charge against her.

Emmanson, arraigned on Monday, had been granted bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties—one of whom was required to be a blood relative and provide evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State Government. Unable to meet the bail conditions, she was remanded at the Kirikiri Correctional Centre.

At Wednesday’s hearing, Police Prosecutor Inspector Oluwabunmi Adeitan informed the court of “new developments” and tendered a letter from the Commissioner of Police, Lagos Airport Command, dated August 13, 2025, requesting the withdrawal of the charges under Section 72(1) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Lagos State, 2015, for further investigation.

The defence counsel, Adams Atakpa, did not oppose the application.

Following confirmation that the withdrawal was unconditional, Magistrate Salami admonished the 26-year-old to “exercise wisdom” in future, warning that she “might not be this fortunate in another matter.”

Immediately after the proceedings, Emmason was whisked away in a waiting car, while her family members shielded her from speaking to journalists.

Earlier, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo (SAN), said the decision followed consultations with aviation stakeholders, public appeals, and expressions of remorse.

He also confirmed that Ibom Air had agreed to withdraw its complaint against Emmason.