Comfort Emmanson, the Ibom Air passenger recently discharged by an Ikeja Magistrate’s Court in Lagos, has spoken publicly for the first time since her release from Kirikiri Correctional Centre.
In an Instagram post on Wednesday, Ms Emmanson expressed gratitude to her friends, supporters and well-wishers for their prayers and encouragement during her detention.
“Thank you so much for all the prayers, love, and support. I’ve been released from the prison, but I’m still in pains due to how I was treated. I just need some rest and medical treatment before I give out my own version of the event,” she wrote.
Her statement came hours after Magistrate Olanrewaju Salami struck out the five-count charge against her.
The charges alleged that she disrupted peace on an Ibom Air flight, assaulted a crew member and behaved in a manner capable of breaching public order.
Prosecuting counsel Oluwabunmi Adeitan informed the court that both the complainant and the airline had lost interest in pursuing the case, acting on a directive from the police.
Emmanson was first arraigned on Monday following an incident on Sunday during an Ibom Air flight from Uyo to Lagos.
She pleaded not guilty and was granted N500,000 bail with two sureties in like sum but was remanded after failing to meet the bail conditions.
The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) subsequently placed her on an indefinite no-fly list.
Before the court’s decision, minister of aviation and aerospace development Festus Keyamo said the matter had been resolved after consultations with stakeholders.
He noted that the resolution considered appeals from concerned individuals and the remorse shown by those involved.
Ibom Air also formally withdrew its complaint.
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) later clarified that it did not impose any sanctions on Emmanson, saying the no-fly ban was an airline decision.
NCAA’s director of public affairs and consumer protection, Mike Achimugu, suggested the restriction could be shortened or lifted altogether.
The development came days after Fuji musician Wasiu Ayinde, popularly known as KWAM 1, was banned from flying with ValueJet over a separate in-flight incident.
