FG reduces KWAM 1 ban to one month, orders Emmanson’s release from Kirikiri prison

The Federal Government has announced the reduction of the six-month flight ban placed on Fuji musician, Wasiu Ayinde, popularly known as KWAM 1, to one month and also ordered the release of Comfort Emmanson from Kirikiri prison. 

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday 

The minister also stated that he personally appealed to the leadership of the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) to review the lifetime ban on Emmanson over the Lagos airport incident involving Ibom Air.

Tribune Online reports that KWAM 1 was added to a no-fly list and a six-month flight ban placed on him following an altercation with ValueJet staff over content of his flask suspected to be alcohol. 

According to him, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) will also work with KWAM 1 as an ambassador for proper airport security protocols.

Keyamo also confirmed that the licences of ValueJet’s Captain Oluranti Ogoyi and the co-pilot, First Officer Ivan Oloba, who were sanctioned over the same incident, would be restored after a one-month suspension and the completion of a mandatory professional reappraisal.

The minister announced that the government had also directed Ibom Air to withdraw its complaint against Ms Comfort Emmanson, an “unruly passenger” arrested on 10 August, paving the way for her release from Kirikiri Prison this week. The AON has further agreed to lift her lifetime flying ban.

To forestall future incidents, Keyamo has ordered aviation and other relevant agencies to hold a retreat next week to retrain security personnel on handling disruptive passengers and improving airlines’ customer relations.

He emphasised that the clemency granted in these cases was based on compassion and the remorse shown by those involved, warning that the government remained firm on enforcing aviation safety and security standards.

The text reads fully, “1. In the last 48 hours, I have been in consultation with critical stakeholders in the Aviation Sector and those involved in the unfortunate incidents regarding the unruly behaviours of certain individuals at our airports of recent.

“2. Though regrettable, we think 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.

“3. As highlighted in my previous statements on the last two incidents, clear wrongs were committed by both the offending passengers and staff of the airlines involved from all the evidence available to us and those available to the public. It is clear that all the actors involved cannot continue to highlight the injury or injustice done to them without acknowledging their own equal culpability. 

“5. Therefore, after reviewing the entire incidents, including appeals made by well-meaning individuals and remorse shown by the actors, the following decisions have been reached: 

“THE CASE OF IBOM AIRLINE AND MS. COMFORT EMMANSON

“(a) In the case of the unruly passenger, Ms. Comfort Emmanson, on the Ibom Airline on Sunday, the 10th of August, 2025, I have conferred with Ibom Airline to withdraw the Complaint against her today. When the Police took her Statement in presence of her lawyer, she exhibited great remorse for her conduct. 

“(b) Subsequent to the withdrawal of the complaint by the Complainant, the CP of Airport Command and the Police Prosecutor will immediately take the remaining steps to facilitate her release from Kirikiri Prisons within this week. 

“(c) 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. 

“THE CASE OF VALUEJET AND WASIU AYINDE MARSHALL (KWAM 1)

“(d) In the case of KWAM 1, the NCAA is to reduce his flight ban to a one-month period. FAAN will also work with the music star with a view to engaging him as an ambassador for proper airport security protocol going forward.

“(e) Having publicly demonstrated penitence, the NCAA is also to withdraw its criminal complaints against KWAM 1 earlier lodged with the Police. 

“(f) In the case of Captain Oluranti Ogoyi, and the co-pilot, First Officer Ivan Oloba of VALUEJET, the NCAA is to restore their licenses after the same period of one-month ban after undergoing some mandatory professional re-appraisal. The details will be announced by the NCAA.

“AIRLINE OPERATORS, AVIATION AND OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCIES 

“6. I have 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. 

“7. 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. 

“FINAL COMMENTS

“8. These above decisions were taken by Government and the airline operators purely on COMPASSIONATE grounds as Government will never pander to base sentiments, politically-motivated views or warped legal opinions when clear encroachment of our laws are involved. 

“9. We are also sending a CLEAR MESSAGE that we take safety and security in the aviation sector very seriously and we have decided to draw a line after these clemencies.” 

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