An Ikeja Magistrate’s Court in Ogba, Lagos, on Wednesday discharged Comfort Emmanson, the Ibom Air passenger accused of unruly conduct and assault aboard an Uyo-Lagos flight, after prosecutors withdrew all charges.
Magistrate Olanrewaju Salami struck out the five-count charge following a formal application by the prosecution to discontinue the matter.
LEADERSHIP reports that the development came after the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, intervened in the case, engaging in consultations with aviation stakeholders and securing Ibom Air’s agreement to drop its complaint over the August 10 incident.
“The resolution came after reviewing the incident, considering appeals from well-meaning individuals, and noting the remorse expressed by those involved,” Keyamo said.
The minister disclosed that Ibom Air, after discussions, consented to withdraw its complaint against Emmanson, paving the way for the police to also terminate their prosecution.
Emmanson had been arraigned on Monday, August 11, and granted bail of ₦500,000 with two sureties in like sum. However, she was remanded at Kirikiri Correctional Centre after failing to meet the bail conditions.
At Wednesday’s proceedings, prosecuting counsel Oluwabunmi Adeitan informed the court of the new decision and applied for the case to be withdrawn, a request Magistrate Salami promptly granted.
The case, which sparked public debate over airline-passenger relations in Nigeria, is now formally closed.
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