Olushola Omogbehin
The Nigerian government has reversed its decision on the cases of the misconduct of King Wasiu Ayinde of Value Jet and Ibom Air passenger, Ms Comfort Emmanson.
In a statement on Wednesday, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo (SAN), said that he had conferred with Ibom Air to withdraw criminal charges against the passenger.
Emmanson who was involved in an argument with an Ibom Air’s air hostess during an Uyo-Lagos flight on Sunday, was later arraigned and remanded in Kirikiri Maximum Prison while the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) slammed a life ban on her.
Several footages on various social media platforms showed the passengers assaulting the crew member while in the process of bundling her out of the plane, sensitive parts of her body were exposed.
Similarly, KWAM1 who was involved with Value Jet’s was slammed with a six-month ban after declining crew instruction not to travel with the liquid substance and attempted to block the aircraft from taking off.
Though the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, had ordered investigation into the incident involving KWAM1 but the Aviation Minister, Festus Keyamo said that having consulted with critical stakeholders in the sector and those involved in the two unfortunate incidents, some decisions were reached.
“I have conferred with Ibom Airline to withdraw the complaint against Emmanson today. When the Police took her Statement in the presence of her lawyer, she exhibited great remorse for her conduct.
“Subsequent to the withdrawal of the complaint by the Complainant, the Commissioner of Police, Airport Command and the Police Prosecutor will immediately take the remaining steps to facilitate her release from Kirikiri Prisons within this week.
“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. The details of the resolution will be made public by the AON subsequently.”
On KWAM1, the Minister directed the NCAA “to reduce his flight ban to a one-month period.”
According to him, FAAN would also work with the music star with a view to engaging him as an ambassador for proper airport security protocol going forward.
“Having publicly demonstrated penitence, the NCAA is also to withdraw its criminal complaints against KWAM 1 earlier lodged with the Police,” he said.
He revealed that NCAA will restore the licenses of Captain Oluranti Ogoyi, and the co-pilot, First Officer Ivan Oloba after the same period of one-month ban after undergoing some mandatory professional re-appraisal.
Daily Trust also reports that the minister had directed all relevant Aviation agencies in collaboration with other complementary agencies outside aviation to immediately begin a retreat next week to properly retrain and prepare our Aviation security personnel on how to deal with errant and disruptive passengers and how to deescalate potentially explosive situations. The retreat will be fully covered by the Press with the opportunity to ask all the relevant questions.
“The Airlines will also have their own session when the conduct and attitude of their staff towards members of the travelling public will be in full focus,” he said.
“Valuable lessons have been learnt by all sides to these incidents and airport security protocol, especially, have been well highlighted for the travelling public.
“If nothing at all, the episodes have undoubtedly helped to raise public awareness about appropriate conduct within the aviation space,” he concluded.
