Court discharges Ibom Air passenger as Police withdraw assault charges

An Ikeja Magistrate Court has struck out all charges against Comfort Emmanson, the passenger accused of assaulting airline officials during an Ibom Air flight from Uyo to Lagos.

Presiding Magistrate Olanrewaju Salami discharged Emmanson on Wednesday after the police formally withdrew the five-count charge.

During proceedings, police prosecutor Olubunmi Adeitan informed the court that new facts had emerged, prompting the decision to drop the case. Emmanson’s counsel, Adams Otakpe, raised no objection, clearing the way for the charges to be struck out.

READ ALSO: Legal expert faults AON’s lifetime ban on Ibom Air passenger, says action violates constitution

The development comes just days after the Lagos Airport Police Command arraigned Emmanson over the alleged assault, which led to her being remanded at the Kirikiri Correctional Facility.

Earlier on Wednesday, Festus Keyamo, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, announced that Emmanson would be released this week following the withdrawal of complaints.

He also disclosed that the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) had agreed to lift the lifetime travel ban previously placed on her.

The case gained national attention on Sunday after videos surfaced on social media platform X showing Emmanson confronting a flight attendant onboard and later clashing with airport security personnel.

Ibom Air had initially imposed a travel restriction on her, while the AON described the incident as “one of the most severe cases of unruly behaviour witnessed this year” and placed her on a “no-fly” list for life — a sanction that has now been rescinded.