A magistrate court in Ikeja on Wednesday struck out the charges filed against Comfort Emmanson, the passenger who was accused of assaulting the cabin crew of Ibom Air on the Uyo-Lagos flight on Sunday.
The presiding judge, Mr Olanrewaju Salami, struck out the five-count charge against the accused after the police formally withdrew the case.
Emmanson was charged for disrupting the peace on board the flight, assaulting a crew member and conducting herself in a manner capable of breaching public order, of which she had pleaded ‘not guilty’ at her arraignment on Monday.
During the resumed hearing in the matter, the police prosecutor, Mr Oluwabunmi Adeitan, informed the court that the complainant and the airline were no longer interested in pursuing the matter and thereby applied for the withdrawal of the case, citing instructions from the police authorities.
Salami granted the request and ordered Emmanson’s discharge in line with the application.
However, the judge advised the 26-year-old to always exercise wisdom in future, regardless of provocation, noting that she had played a role in the controversy.
Recall that the police command at the Lagos Airport had on Monday arraigned Emmanson over alleged assault during the incident involving her and Ibom Air cabin crew.
Subsequently, she was remanded in Kirikiri correctional facility.
On Wednesday (yesterday), federal government, through the minister of aviation and aerospace development, Mr Festus Keyamo, directed Ibom Air to withdraw all charges against Emmanson.
Subsequent to that, commissioner of police, Lagos Airport and the police prosecutor were directed to “immediately take the remaining steps to facilitate her release from Kirikiri Prisons.”
The minister also held talks with the leaders of AON and directed them to lift the life-time flying ban imposed on Emmanson, which they agreed.
Meanwhile, Emmanson took to her instagram page, thanking her supporters for standing by her during her ordeal.
She said she was yet to recover from the physical and emotional toll of her experience.
She expressed gratitude God and to her loved ones, and announced plans to seek medical treatment before sharing her side of the story.
“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. Thank you so much my Lovely Friends and Supporters. I really appreciate y’all from the button of my heart. God bless y’all. THANK YOU MY GREAT GOD!!!”, she wrote.
