A Lagos magistrate court has formally discharged Comfort Emmanson, the Ibom Air passenger accused of assault and unruly behaviour aboard Flight Q153, after police prosecutors requested the withdrawal of all five charges against her.
Presiding Magistrate Olanrewaju Salami struck out the case on Wednesday in Ogba, Lagos, following an application by Police Prosecutor Oluwabunmi Adeitan, who said the airline and complainant were no longer pursuing the matter.
The court had previously arraigned Emmanson on allegations of disrupting civil order on board, assaulting a crew member, and engaging in conduct likely to breach public safety. She entered a not-guilty plea and was remanded at Kirikiri Correctional Centre for failing to meet bail conditions.
This decision follows interventions by the Aviation Ministry and Festus Keyamo (SAN), who revealed that consultations with affected stakeholders—including Ibom Air—culminated in the agreement to drop all charges after assessing the circumstances and noting remorse shown.
Emmanson’s ordeal had sparked national debate: the video of her removal went viral, drawing fierce condemnation from organizations such as the Nigerian Bar Association, which demanded a reassessment of aviation protocols and criticized the humiliating nature of her treatment.
Legal analysts and human rights advocates have hailed the court’s ruling as a victory for due process and humane treatment. They note the case underscores the need for procedural fairness, even in incidents that involve public safety and unruly behaviour.
With the court’s ruling, Comfort Emmanson regains her freedom—but the broader conversation continues: can Nigeria’s aviation industry reform its handling of such contentious cases? This judgment may prove a turning point toward a more balanced, dignity-first ethos in air travel enforcement.
