FG drops charges against Ibom Air Passenger Emmanson, reduces KWAM 1’s no-fly ban to one month.

The Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, has announced the withdrawal of criminal complaints against two individuals involved in recent aviation incidents. 

With the announcement, Comfort Emmanson, a passenger who assaulted Ibom Air staff, and Fuji musician, Kwam 1, who was involved in an altercation with ValueJet staff, will benefit from the decision.

Keyamo, in a statement on Wednesday announced that Emmanson will be released from Kirikiri Prison within the week after Ibom Air withdraws its complaint, noting that the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) has also agreed to lift the lifetime flying ban imposed on her. 

In the same vein, Kwam 1's flight ban has been reduced to one month, and the National Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) will withdraw its criminal complaints, while Captain Oluranti Ogoyi and First Officer Ivan Oloba of ValueJet will have their licenses restored after a one-month suspension and mandatory professional re-appraisal.

The Minister said that the decisions were made on compassionate grounds, with the government emphasizing that safety and security in the aviation sector are taken seriously, adding that a retreat will be held next week to re-train aviation security personnel on managing disruptive passengers and de-escalating conflicts, with airlines also reviewing staff conduct towards passengers to improve service standards.

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EFCC releases Tambuwal on administrative bail.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has released former Sokoto State Governor, Senator Aminu Tambuwal, after barely 24 hours in custody. 

According to reports, Tambuwal was detained on Monday after honoring an invitation by the commission over alleged N189 billion fraud.

He has now been granted administrative bail and will be released after perfecting his bail conditions.

Tambuwal, who served as the governor of Sokoto from 2015 to 2023, was detained held over alleged fraudulent cash withdrawals to the tune of N189billion, which were said to be in flagrant violation of the Money Laundering (Prevention & Prohibition) Act, 2022.

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