In a dramatic turn of events, the Ikeja Magistrate Court sitting in Ogba, Lagos, on Wednesday discharged Comfort Emmanson, the Ibom Air passenger previously accused of unruly behavior and assault aboard a flight.
Magistrate Olanrewaju Salami struck out all five charges against Emmanson after the prosecuting counsel, Oluwabunmi Adeitan, submitted a formal application for withdrawal. The decision came following federal-level interventions and a consensus reached among aviation stakeholders.
Earlier in the week, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo (SAN), announced that the case would be dropped after a review of the incident, appeals from concerned citizens, and Emmanson’s expression of remorse.
Ibom Air also agreed to withdraw its complaint regarding the August 10 incident, effectively clearing the path for her release.
Emmanson, who was arraigned on Monday and granted ₦500,000 bail with two sureties in like sum, had initially been remanded at Kirikiri Correctional Centre after failing to meet the conditions.
Her discharge marks the end of a closely followed legal saga that has sparked nationwide debate over passenger rights and airline handling of disputes in Nigeria’s aviation industry.
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