Comfort Emmanson, the Ibom Air passenger accused of assaulting a crew member, has broken her silence after being released from the Kirikiri Correctional Centre, saying she remains in pain and requires medical attention before sharing her full account of the incident.
In a post on her Instagram handle @soft_commy, Emmanson thanked friends, supporters, and well-wishers for their prayers and solidarity, noting that she needs rest and treatment before narrating her side of the story.
“Thank you so much for the prayers, love and support. I’ve been released from the prison, but I’m still in pain due to how I was treated.
I just need some rest and medical treatment before I give out my own version of the event.
Thank you so much, my lovely friends and supporters. I really appreciate y’all from the bottom of my heart. God bless you all. Thank you, my great God!!!”
Emmanson was arraigned earlier in the week over alleged unruly behaviour on a Uyo-to-Lagos flight on Sunday. She was remanded after failing to meet bail conditions but was freed on Wednesday when Magistrate Olanrewaju Salami struck out the five charges against her following a withdrawal by the police.
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo (SAN), confirmed that the resolution came after consultations with aviation stakeholders and individuals involved in recent cases of unruly behaviour at airports.
Emmanson had been accused of assaulting a flight attendant and confronting security officials at the Lagos airport. In the wake of the incident, the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) imposed a lifetime flight ban on her.
While condemning her conduct, Keyamo also criticised the leaking of a viral indecent video showing Emmanson with a torn top that exposed her upper body, describing it as a serious breach of privacy. He ordered action against the Ibom Air staff responsible for the leak.
Her arrest and detention drew sharp criticism from civil society groups, members of the public, and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), who accused Ibom Air and the AON of mishandling the matter.
In a statement on Wednesday, Keyamo said all parties had “learnt their lessons” and that the incident had heightened public awareness of airport security protocols.
“In the case of the unruly passenger, Ms. Comfort Emmanson, on the Ibom Airline on Sunday, August 10, 2025, I have conferred with Ibom Airline to withdraw the complaint against her today. When the police took her statement in the presence of her lawyer, she exhibited great remorse for her conduct.
I have also conferred with the leadership of the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) and have appealed to them to lift the lifetime flying ban imposed on her, to which they agreed. The details of the resolution will be made public by AON subsequently,” he stated.
