Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has said airline operators are considering appointing Ms. Comfort Emmanson, the Ibom Air passenger recently released from prison, as an ambassador for good passenger conduct.
Emmanson was jailed after an incident on an Ibom Air flight but secured her release on Wednesday following government intervention and the withdrawal of the airline’s complaint.
In a statement on Wednesday via his verified X handle, Keyamo said the role being considered for Emmanson, and for Fuji star Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, also known as KWAM, in a separate case, would be voluntary and without financial benefits.
“Whilst the Aviation agencies are considering using KWAM 1 for such a role, in my discussion last night with the Airline Operators of Nigeria, they are also looking at the option of using Ms. Comfort Emmanson, who has also shown remorse, as their own Ambassador for good passenger conduct.
“It is left for the AON to work out those details since she has been actually released from prison custody today based on my earlier statement. Whilst the usual suspects can continue to question our decisions on this issue, we firmly believe we have been fair to all,” his statement read.
He stressed that such ambassadorial roles are not official positions and have been given to repentant individuals by past Nigerian governments.
He added, “It is common practice all over the world that a repentant offender is made to preach publicly against the exact conduct from which he has repented. It is akin to Community Service.
It is not paid for and it is voluntary service. Unfortunately, in Nigeria, some would assume that once you hear the word ‘Ambassador’ it is a big position that comes with the perquisites of office. No, it is not. It is for free.”
Emmanson, a passenger on an Ibom Air flight, was involved in an altercation that disrupted operations. She was arrested, prosecuted and jailed for disorderly conduct before her release on Wednesday after Ibom Air withdrew its complaint.
On a flight from Uyo to Lagos, passenger Emmanson allegedly refused to power off her mobile phone during takeoff, prompting a verbal outburst.
Ibom Air and the Airline Operators of Nigeria imposed a lifetime no-fly ban on her, which was met with condemnation from the Nigerian Bar Association and other rights groups, citing due process and human dignity concerns.
On August 5 KWAM 1 clashed with airline staff and security officials at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, while attempting to board a ValueJet flight to Lagos.
He was accused of carrying a prohibited flask believed to contain alcohol, spilling its contents on personnel, and walking onto the tarmac to block the plane from taxiing.
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