Emmanuel Ukudolo I Wednesday, August 13, 2025
IKEJA, Lagos – Comfort Emmanson, the unruly passenger aboard Ibom Air that was forcefully ejected from the aircraft and charged to court has been discharged and acquitted.
She was was discharged and acquitted following the decision of Federal Aviation Authority of Nigeria, FAAN to withdraw the matter, following her remorse and plea from Nigerians.
Comfort Emmanson was discharged by Magistrate Olanrewaju Salami at the resumed hearing earlier today.
Police Prosecutor, Inspector Oluwabunmi Adeitan told the court that new developments warranted the need to withdraw the case.
Insp. Adeitan informed the court that they have an application from the Commissioner of Police (CP) Lagos Airport Command to withdraw the charge.
“There is a new development and new facts that emerged that necessitated withdrawal of the charge for further investigation”, she said.
She tendered application to court for the withdrawal of the case which was admitted by the court.
Asked by the trial Magistrate Salami for his reaction, the defence counsels, Adams Atakpa and Mrs Adefunke Adewale said the defence has no objection to the application of the prosecution.
Insp. Adeitan told the court that the CP wants to investigate the matter further. We want to withdraw the charge. We don’t want the defendant to be before the court now.”
She said it is unconditional withdrawal.”
Ruling on the matter, Magistrate Salami admonished Miss Emmason to exercise some level of wisdom in whatever she does in future.
“This is because you might not be this fortunate in another matter in future. I hope you will learn from this experience and become a better person”, he said.
Magistrate Salami subsequently
struck out the five-count charge and discharged the defendant.
In the charge , Miss Emmason was charged for behaving in an unruly and disorderly manner by shouting on top of your voice, abusing and assaulting the flight crew and refusing to disembark from the aircraft after landing and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 4 (1) (a) and punishable under section 4(2) of Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) bye law 2005.
Another count stated that the defendant assaulted one Juliana Edward slapping and hitting her cheeks with your right hand and thereby committed an offence punishable under the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015,
The defendant was charged for assaulting one Jokpame Sagun by hitting her face with her slippers and for willfully damaging the aircraft divider cotton valued at $2.500 belonging to Ibom Airline .
She was also charged for wilful damage of a braided wig by dragging and tearing the wig valued N110,000 belonging to Juliana Comfort.
