By Felix Durumbah
Reprieve has come for all those slammed with one sanction or the other for allegedly breaching aviation protocols in two separate aviation incidents in the country within a fortnight.
Affected are Ms Comfort Emmanson, Fuji maestro KWAM 1, and ValueJet airline captain Oluranti Ogoyi and co-pilot Ivan Oloba.
Emmanson, who was arrested, charged to court and remanded in Kirikiri Correctional Centre, over an incident on Ibom Air this week, is to breathe the fresh air of freedom sometime within the week.
In the case of KWAM 1, who was involved in a controversial incident involving alleged refusal to hand over a flask he was carrying for inspection to see if it contained a substance banned onboard –alcohol –, and furthermore endangered lives of passengers and crew by blocking the plane as it taxied, the six-month ban slammed on him by Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) was slashed to one month.
The two ValueJet crew who were directly involved in attempting to taxi the aircraft after the musician blocked its movement, and whose licenses were therefore suspended, are to have them back after one month too –but will first undergo relevant mandatory professional re-appraisal.
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development,Festus Keyamo, issued the directives today, August 13, in a statement on his X.
He directed Ibom Airline to withdraw the criminal charges against Emmanson.
He said the Police will immediately take the remaining steps to facilitate her release from Kirikiri Prison within the week.
Keyamo also directed the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to reduce the flight ban slammed on KWAM 1 to one month.
Keyamo said the developments were the outcome of consultation with critical stakeholders in the aviation sector and those involved in the incidents.
According to the Minister, valuable lessons have been learnt by all sides to those incidents.
Keyamo stated: “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,” he added.
The particular case of Emmanson has generated widespread controversy across the country and beyond bordering on palpable anger in some quarters, with some lawyers and other Nigerians claiming,in a fresh narrative with new video evidences, that she is the victim in the incident and has no business being in prison.
PHOTO CAPTION: Emmanson (right) during the onboard altercation with an Ibom Air official.
