NCAA Denies Role in Ibom Air Passenger Detention, Says Airline Initiated Court Action

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has distanced itself from the detention of Comfort Emmanson, the Ibom Air passenger accused of assaulting crew members, stating that the decision to press charges was taken solely by the airline.

Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Tuesday, NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Mike Achimugu, said the authority only intervenes in such matters when necessary and within its legal mandate.

“In the case of Kwam 1, the airline did not activate its right to take the passenger to court. As a result, the NCAA petitioned the relevant authorities to prosecute the passenger and issued an advisory to the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) to have him banned,” Achimugu explained.

By contrast, Achimugu said Ibom Air immediately exercised its right to prosecute after its staff was allegedly assaulted by Emmanson.

“Maybe because their staff had been assaulted, the airline immediately activated its right to take up the matter, and it went to court. The NCAA is not involved in the case of the Ibom Air passenger,” he added.

Achimugu said both incidents,  involving Emmanson and Fuji musician Wasiu Ayinde (Kwam 1), show that Nigeria’s aviation system is being tested, stressing that responsibility lies across all stakeholders, including FAAN, AVSEC, cabin crew, and passengers.

He reiterated that unruly behaviour is unacceptable in global aviation and urged passengers to comply with crew instructions for safety. He also revealed that during the Ibom Air incident, other passengers reportedly seized and switched off Emmanson’s phone amid the confrontation.

On Monday, the Airline Operators of Nigeria announced a lifetime no-fly ban on Emmanson across all member airlines, with spokesperson Obiora Okonkwo warning that similar behaviour would attract the same sanction.