Court Frees Ibom Air Passenger, Comfort Emmason, As FG Orders Withdrawal Of Case
…’I’m Still In Pain’ – Emmason
Comfort Emmanson, the Ibom Air passenger who was accused of unruly behaviour and assault aboard an Ibom Air flight, on August 10 flight, has been released from incarceration.
Comfort Emmanson was discharged by an
Ikeja Magistrate Court sitting in
Ogba, Lagos State today, Wednesday.
The presiding Magistrate, Olanrewaju Salami struck out the case shortly after the police withdrew the five-count charge against her.
The development occurred after the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo (SAN), announced that consultations with aviation stakeholders, appeals from concerned Nigerians, and the remorse expressed by the parties involved had led to a resolution.
Keyamo said the resolution was reached after “reviewing the incidents, considering appeals from well-meaning individuals, and noting the remorse shown by those involved.”
Emmanson was arraigned on Monday and granted ₦500,000 bail with two sureties but was remanded at the Kirikiri Correctional Centre while awaiting bail fulfilment.
At the resumed hearing, prosecution counsel Oluwabunmi Adeitan applied to withdraw the case, and the court granted the request.
At the resumed hearing of the case,the prosecution, Oluwabunmi Adeitan, informed the court that there were new developments that necessitated the withdrawal of the case.
She tendered application to court for the withdrawal of the case, which was admitted by the court.
RECALL:
OBI SLAMS ‘DOUBLE STANDARDS’ AFTER IBOM AIR PASSENGER Is JAILED WHILE KWAM 1 WALKS FREE
In a statement posted on X, Dr. Peter Obi, 2023 presidential election flag bearer apologised to both Emmanson and the Ibom Air crew but criticised what he described as the “dehumanising treatment” meted out to the passenger.
Peter Obi, reacted to the altercation aboard an Ibom Air flight that led to the arrest and remand of passenger, Comfort Emmanson.
It will be recalled that Emmanson was taken into custody after allegedly assaulting crew members of the state-owned airline during boarding. She was subsequently arraigned and remanded in prison for her conduct at the airport on the same day.
In a statement posted on X, Obi apologised to both Emmanson and the Ibom Air crew but criticised what he described as the “dehumanising treatment” meted out to the passenger. He condemned the decision to strip her in public, calling it “unnecessary” and an example of “abuse by our agencies.”
The Labour Party chieftain compared the case to a recent incident involving Fuji musician Wasiu Ayinde, popularly known as Kwam 1, who was accused of preventing a flight from taking off. Obi noted that while Emmanson was swiftly prosecuted, Kwam 1 had not been arrested or arraigned, and even had state officials advocating on his behalf.
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“It is unacceptable that she was hurriedly taken to court and remanded, while someone who visibly held a plane from taking off and put hundreds of lives at risk is still at large,” Obi wrote.
He described the Ibom Air case as a reflection of double standards in Nigeria’s justice system, stressing that justice must be “fair, equal, and not selective, especially against women who are seen to be weaker.”
Obi also drew attention to what he called the unchecked impunity of politically connected individuals, adding: “This young lady’s offence does not compare to the crimes committed daily by those parading themselves as ‘excellencies’ while looting public funds without consequence.”
The former governor urged the Minister of Aviation and other relevant authorities to explain the “double standards” in handling such incidents.
“The rule of law based on justice for all must remain the guidepost of our democracy,” he said, concluding with his campaign mantra: “A new Nigeria is possible”.
RECALL:
Emmanson was arrested and detained after a widely publicised dispute between her and the airline staff. Though details of the original altercation remain a subject of debate, the passenger’s latest post focuses on the physical and emotional toll of her time in custody.
As of the time of filing this report, the airline has not yet issued a public response to Emmanson’s post, but its earlier statement confirmed a customer service incident had taken place and was being handled internally.
Keyamo revealed that Ibom Air had agreed to withdraw its complaint against Emmanson, who was arrested over the August 10 incident.
‘I’M STILL IN PAIN’ – IBOM AIR PASSENGER CRIES OUT AFTER RELEASE FROM CUSTODY
Comfort Emmanson has broken her silence following her release from custody, taking to social media to thank her supporters.
Sharing her post-release condition in a post on her Instagram page today , Wednesday, August 13, 2025, Emmanson said she is still “in pain due to how I was treated.”
She said she requires medical attention before she can share her full account of the incident, stressing that she needed some rest and medical treatment before she could give out her side of the story.
“Thank you so much for the prayers, love and support. I’ve been released from the prison, but I’m still in pain due to how I was treated.
