The Federal Government has granted sweeping clemency in two high-profile airport misconduct cases, ordering the release of Ms. Comfort Emmanson from prison, slashing Fuji legend KWAM 1’s flight ban, and directing airlines and aviation agencies to overhaul their conduct protocols.
In a statement on Wednesday, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development Festus Keyamo (SAN) said the decision followed consultations with key aviation stakeholders and appeals from well-meaning Nigerians.
Keyamo said both passengers and airline staff in the cases committed “clear wrongs” and that the incidents had served as lessons in airport security protocol for the travelling public.
For Ms. Emmanson, who was detained over an unruly passenger incident aboard an Ibom Air flight on August 10, the minister confirmed that the airline had withdrawn its complaint, paving the way for her release from Kirikiri Prison this week. He also disclosed that the Airline Operators of Nigeria had agreed to lift her lifetime flight ban.
In KWAM 1’s case, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) will reduce his flight ban to one month and withdraw criminal charges. The musician will also work with the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) as an ambassador for proper airport security conduct.
The NCAA will restore the licenses of ValueJet’s Captain Oluranti Ogoyi and First Officer Ivan Oloba after their one-month suspension and mandatory professional re-appraisal.
Keyamo announced that all relevant aviation and allied agencies will hold a retreat next week to retrain security personnel on handling disruptive passengers and de-escalating conflicts, while airlines will review the conduct of their staff toward travellers.
The minister stressed that the clemency was granted on compassionate grounds but warned that the government would not tolerate future violations of aviation laws.
