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• KWAM 1 named aviation ambassador despite airport mess
From Sola Ojo, Abuja
An Ikeja Magistrates’ Court has struck out unruly behaviour and assault charges brought against an Ibom Air passenger, Comfort Emmason, following police’s withdrawal of the case.
On August 11, Emmason was remanded in a correctional centre over a five-count charge of unruly behaviour and assault, due to an incident onboard an Ibom Air flight from Uyo to Lagos on Sunday.
At the resumed hearing, the Magistrate, Mr Olanrewaju Salami, advised Emmason to exercise wisdom in her future actions, noting, “You might not be this fortunate in another matter.
“I hope you will learn from this experience and become a better person.”
He, therefore, struck out the charge and discharged Emmason.
Earlier, the prosecutor, Inspector Oluwabunmi Adeitan, informed the court that the Commissioner of Police, Lagos Airport Command, had requested for the withdrawal of the charge due to new developments.
She stated that the police would unconditionally withdraw the charges, which contravened Sections 4(1)(a), 170(1)(a) and 350 of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) Bye-Law 2005 and the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
Adeitan tendered the withdrawal application to the court, which was admitted as evidence.
The defence counsel, Mr Adams Atakpa, said he had no objection to the prosecution’s application.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has drastically softened its stance against offenders involved in recent airport misconduct cases, including Fuji music icon, Wasiu Ayinde Marshall (popularly known as KWAM 1), by lifting bans, withdrawing criminal complaints and restoring licences.
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, announced yesterday via his verified ‘X’ that KWAM 1’s flight ban has been reduced to just one month and all criminal complaints against him withdrawn, despite his widely publicised unruly conduct at Abuja Airport.
Instead of facing long-term sanctions, the musician would now be engaged by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) as an “ambassador” for proper airport behaviour.
Keyamo said he had also conferred with the leadership of the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) and had appealed to them to lift the life-time flying ban imposed on her, to which they agreed.
The minister has directed the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to restore the licences of ValueJet pilot, Capt. Oluranti Ogoyi, and the co-pilot, First Officer Ivan Oloba after undergoing some mandatory professional re-appraisal in the next one month.
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He also asked the NCAA to reduce the six months no-flight ban slammed on fuji legend, Wasiu Ayinde, popularly known as KWAM 1 to one month. The minister said FAAN would also work with the music star with a view to engaging him as an ambassador for proper airport security protocol going forward.
He added that the criminal complaints against KWAM 1 earlier lodged with the Police for publicly demonstrated penitence will also be withdrawn. He said the details would be announced by the NCAA.
“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.
“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,’’ he said.
The minister added that from all the evidence available to the ministry and the public, clear wrongs were committed by both the offending passengers and staff members of the airlines.
He said all the actors involved would not continue to highlight the injury or injustice done to them without acknowledging their own equal culpability.
The minister said he had directed all relevant aviation agencies in collaboration with other complementary agencies outside aviation to immediately begin a retreat to properly retrain and prepare aviation security personnel.
He said the retreat would focus on how to deal with errant and disruptive passengers and how to deescalate potentially explosive situations.
The minister added that the retreat would be fully covered by the media with the opportunity to ask all the relevant questions.
Keyamo added that Airlines would also have their own session when the conduct and attitude of their staff towards members of the travelling public would be in full focus.
“These decisions were taken by the Government and the airline operators purely on compassionate grounds.
“Government will never pander to base sentiments, politically-motivated views or warped legal opinions when clear encroachments of our laws are involved.
“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,’’ he said.
Critics, however, say the moves send a dangerous signal that celebrity influence can bend aviation rules, undermining efforts to enforce discipline and security in Nigeria’s airports.
