Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Festus Keyamo has disclosed that the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) are currently considering making Ms. Comfort ‘Bob’ Emmanson as their ambassador for good passenger conduct.
TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Mr Keyamo made this known in a statement on Wednesday while making further clarification on a similar role being considered for Wasiu Ayinde, popularly known as K1 De Ultimate or Kwam1.
“For further clarification, 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. It is not the first time it is happening in Nigeria and it will not be the last . Examples abound of such roles given to repentant persons by previous governments in Nigeria.
“Whilst the Aviation agencies are considering using KWAM 1 for such a role, in my discussion last night with the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), 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,” Keyamo stated.
TNG reports this is coming after an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday struck out unruly behaviour and assault charges brought against Emmanson, following the police’s withdrawal of the case.
Recall that on August 11, Emmanson 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 Emmanson 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, Insp 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 the defence had no objection to the prosecution’s application.