Festus Keyamo, the minister of aviation and aerospace development, says Comfort Emmanson, the passenger accused of unruly behaviour onboard an Ibom Air flight, will be released this week.
In a statement on X, Keyamo said that the Airlines Operators of Nigeria (AON) has agreed to lift the lifetime ban placed on her.
He said the move followed the withdrawal of a complaint by Ibom Air and consultations with key stakeholders in the aviation sector.
The minister added that Emmanson, when questioned by the police in the presence of her lawyer, showed “great remorse” for her conduct.
“Subsequent to the withdrawal of the complaint by the Complainant, the CP of Airport Command and the Police Prosecutor will immediately take the remaining steps to facilitate her release from Kirikiri Prisons within this week,” Keyamo said.
“I have also conferred with the leadership of the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) and have appealed to them to lift the life-time flying ban imposed on her, to which they agreed.”
He said details of the resolution will be made public by AON subsequently.
According to videos shared on X, an enraged female passenger was seen assaulting a flight attendant on the aircraft and confronting airport security officials.
Ibom Air has earlier stated that shortly before take-off from Uyo, Ms. Emmanson was instructed in line with standard aviation safety procedures to switch off her mobile phone. She bluntly refused to comply until the Pilot-in-Command made an announcement, after which a fellow passenger seated beside her took the phone and switched it off. This action prompted a verbal tirade from Ms. Emmanson. The situation was eventually calmed, and the flight departed as scheduled.
Upon arrival in Lagos, Emmanson waited for all other passengers to disembark and then proceeded to confront the Purser, who had earlier instructed her. She walked up to the unsuspecting Purser, stepped on her, forcibly tore off her wig, removed her glasses and threw them to the floor, and used her footwear to assault her.
She slapped her several times, and when the other cabin crew member tried to intervene, she slapped her too. She then attempted to forcibly remove a fire extinguisher to use as a weapon, an act that could have damaged and grounded the aircraft.
