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Babachir Lawal: Tinubu’s Govt Hijacked By Yoruba; Their Language Spoken At FEC Meeting

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
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Babachir Lawal and Bola Tinubu

Babachir Lawal, a former Secretary to the Government, SGF, has accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of skewing appointments in favour of Yoruba, his ethnic stock. The president is a Yoruba from the south west.

He spoke on Monday while featuring on Channels Television Programme, Politic Today.

Lawal was once an ally of the president before they parted ways over power sharing arrangement in the country. The SGF had criticised President Tinubu for picking Vice President Kassim Yerima as his running mate ahead the 2023 presidential election, saying the action contravened the religious secularity of the country.

The former scribe has since been attacking the president for allegedly populating his government with people from his ethnic stock, and appointing them into juicy government positions.

In his latest attack against the president, Lawal said he warned Nigerians that voting Tinubu as President will lead to the polarization of the country, accusing the president of nepotism, adding that there also competent people from the other parts of the country to be appointed, in response to the administration’s argument that those appointed into key government positions are competent Nigerians.

According to him, “99 percent” of those appointed by Tinubu into his government are Yoruba, saying “I cannot go to a meeting where 99 percent of the participants are Yorubas. Sometimes they finish the meeting in their language while I am sitting there.”

He stressed that he warned Nigerians that Tinubu’s government will be hijacked by Yoruba people if he became president, adding that he was happy that he didn’t get appointment under him, as he would have resigned because he would not be able to stand what’s going on in his government.

“I cannot go to a meeting where 99 percent of the participants are Yorubas. Sometimes they finish the meeting in their language while I am sitting there,” he said.

“I told them on the campaign platform: if you antagonise the northerners, we are finished.

“The problem is that when you support them and they win, they behave as if they have conquered you. They will not count your support.

“If I were in this government, I probably would have been sacked a long time ago, or even killed,” Lawal said.

KWAM1 Vs. Emmanson: NCAA Replies Peter Obi, Explains Why The Musician Was Not Arrested

By
The Source
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Peter Obi
Peter Obi

By Charles Igbo

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Authority, NCAA, has explained why  Juju Musician Wasiu Ayinde, popular as Kwam1 De Ultimate was not arraigned before the Court for his unruly behavior at the local wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport recently.

Kwam1 had, on Thursday, August 7, stood in front of a ValueJet Airline billed for Lagos, in a bid to stop the plane from departing because the ground staff refused to board him for insisting on boarding with an alleged alcohol-filled flask. He, however, insists it was water not alcohol.

For such severe offence at the airport which many say bordered on terrorism, Kwam1 was neither arrested nor arraigned in Court. The sanction given to him was a placement on a “no-fly list”, initially, for six months, but reduced to the period of investigation.

However, on Monday, August 11, a Ms. Comfort Emmanson who was on board an Ibom Air flight from Uyo to Lagos  exhibited an unruly behavior by not only, allegedly, defying an order to switch off her phone, but went physical with the crew on board, and thereafter, ground staff while resisting arrest.

KWAM 1- King Wasiu Ayinde
KWAM!

She was later arrested, taken to the Police, arraigned in Court and is in prison custody.

Many Nigerians, including Peter Obi, Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 Presidential Election, have queried what they saw as preferential and different treatment given to Kwam1. Comparing the fate of Emmanson to Kwam1’s, Obi described it as “double standards”.

However, in response when he spoke on the incident, NCAA Spokesperson, Michael Achimugu,  clarified that Emmanson was not arrested and charged to Court by the NCAA. He explained that the Airline, Ibom Air, did. In the case of Kwam1, he said, ValueJet decided not to arrest Kwam1 or sue him.

His words as explained to Newspot Nigeria:

“There is nothing to put together here. The Ibom Air  passenger was arrested and charged to Court by the Airline.

“The Airline has exercised its right to sue the unruly passenger in Court. So long as that case is in Court, the NCAA has no role to play in it. Okay.

“But in the Kwam1 case, since the Airline did not sue or take the passenger to Court, the NCAA, which also does not have prosecutorial powers, decided to do the right thing by criminally referring the case to the Attorney General and the Inspector General of Police.

“So, if ValueJet had arrested and taken Kwam1 to Court that day, the NCAA would not have been involved to the extent that it became involved.

“Because they didn’t do that, the NCAA did what it had to do. In this case the Airline, since the incident happened, immediately arrested the lady and sued her to Court. So, that’s not the NCAA’s fault.

“We did not sue Kwam1. We did not sue the Lady.”

Ibom Air Bans Passenger For Life
Ibom Air

But, not a few people disagree with Achimugu while insisting that aviation security falls on the Federal Government, and so, NCAA.

Ms. Emmanson has, also, been banned by Ibom Air on all its flights  for life, while the NCAA has placed her on a “no -fly list” until the end of investigation. But again, many ask: “What investigation when she has already been arraigned in Court and remanded in prison custody?”

Ibom Air: Aviation Minister Condemns Release Of Passenger’s Nud{e Pictures

By
The Source
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Festus Keyamo - Aviation Minister

By Charles Igbo

Festus Keyamo, SAN, Minister for Aviation and Aerospace Development, has condemned the release of indecent photographs taken of Comfort Emmanson, a passenger on Ibom Air from Uyo to Abuja.

Emmanson, had, on that flight on Monday, 11th August, especially, on arrival at Lagos Airport, displayed an unbelievable unruly conduct. She went physical with crew members, ground staff and Airport Security Personnel over an incident on board where she, allegedly, refused to switch off her phone on instructions to do so.

However, she was later, forcibly restrained, bundled into a bus, handed over to the Police, arraigned in Court and remanded in prison custody. But in the process of restraining her, she was literally stripped naked, and the indecent photographs, taken at the time,  released to the public via social media.

Condemning the release of such indecent photographs, Keyamo  instructed that whichever staff released them be singled out and be sanctioned.

In a statement Monday on the incident, Keyamo, who said it was a debasing of womanhood, described it as unacceptable.

In his reaction to the incident and the steps taken so far, the Minister said in part: “Aside from the indefinite flight ban imposed on the said unruly passenger (both local and international), by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, the Police had promptly arraigned her this morning at the Ikeja Magistrate’s Court for criminal offences and remanded her at Kirikiri Prison as she could not provide adequate surties in Court. I have attached the charge sheet and remand order for clarity.

“We also note the scuffle that took place between the unruly passenger and ground personnel before she was eventually subdued. This was because of her uncooperative attitude. While we support the filming of her recalcitrant behavior as evidence to prosecute her, what is deplorable is to release such evidence containing indecent exposure to the public to ridicule her. That is totally unacceptable to us. We will not fold our arms and watch the debasing of womanhood. I have, therefore, directed that whoever released that part of the video containing the indecent exposure amongst the staff, should be singled out and adequately sanctioned.

“I have also directed that the Airlines must continue to train and retrain their staff in public relations and how to deal with potentially explosive situations in order to difuse them promptly or nip them in the bud, except when it becomes inevitable. I have also directed a joint security meeting between relevant agencies next week for better coordination of security measures in situations like this or similar ones we witnessed recently.

“For genuinely aggrieved passengers, there are clearly laid down remedies to address grievances. The Consumer Protection Directorate of the NCAA has consistently advertised these remedies and there is no point trying to take the laws into one’s hands that may lead to dire consequences.”

Peter Obi, the Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 Presidential Election has, also, in a statement, condemned the public, indecent treatment meted to Ms. Emmanson.

Ibom Air Passenger: Peter Obi Asks Why KWAM1 Was  Treated  Differently

By
The Source
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0
Peter Obi
Mr Peter Obi

By Charles Igbo

Mr Peter Obi, Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 Presidential Election, has faulted the glaring difference in the treatment given to   an unruly Passenger on Ibom Air, Comfort Emmanson, and the one given to a celebrity Fuji musician, Wasiu Ayinde Marshall, popular as Kwam1 De Ultimate.

Recall that Kwam1, had on August 7, 2025, literally held a ValueJet Aircraft scheduled to fly to Lagos from Abuja hostage over a flask he wanted to take on board, but which was suspected to be filled with alcohol. He resisted both the Airport Security and ValueJet’s from confirming the contents. When the Captain of the flight came down from the cockpit to appeal to him to comply, he opened the flask, and in the process, spilled some of its contents on the Pilot and a couple of other people. When the flight was ready to leave without him, he went and stood in front of the aircraft and, in fact, placed his hand on its body. He only “dodged” from being hit by the plane when the Captain powered it, and made a move to taxi off.

For that move, the two Pilots – Captain and Flying Officer, had their licenses suspended by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA. But the Minister for Aviation insisted Kwam1 be sanctioned.

So, he was placed on a “no-fly” list for six months, a period which was suddenly changed to “indefinitely until investigations are through.” Not a few people think the sanction could be lifted soon, particularly, after his public apology.

But on Monday, 11th August, 2025, another incident happened on Ibom Air flight from Uyo to Lagos. Comfort Emmanson, a passenger on the flight displayed an unruly attitude and went physical on arrival at Lagos from Uyo because she was, allegedly, asked to switch off her phone for take off.

For her misconduct, not only was she stripped naked while she was being bundled out of the aircraft and into a bus on the tarmac, handed over to the Police, she was arraigned in Court, and remanded in custody at the Kirikiri Correctional Facility, Lagos.

While Nigerians condemn her attitude, they are outraged that the same treatment given to her was not given to Kwam1. The questions they are asking are: Why was Kwam1 not arrested by the Police for committing a more serious offence which has been likened to terrorism or, according to Aviation Minister, hostage taking? Why was he not arraigned in Court? And why was he not remanded in prison custody.

One of those who took exception to the differential treatment is Obi. He described it as double standards.

In a post on his X page, Obi decried the handling of Emmanson’s arrest and said justice must be fair. He lamented the dehumanising treatment given to Ms. Emmanson.

His said in the statement where he, also, apologized to the Ibom Air Crew assaulted by Emmanson that another individual (Kwam1) committed

a more serious offence, but was not given same treatment as Emmanson.

While he stressed the need for Nigerians to be of good conduct,

he condemned what he called the “dehumanising treatment given Emmanson who was publicly stripped naked before being hurriedly taken to court and remanded while another individual who held a plane from taking off and put hundreds of lives at risk remains at large, with some government officials calling for him to be forgiven.”

Obi: “This case is not just about one young woman; it is about the double standards that poison our justice system. Justice in Nigeria must never be about who is poor or powerless versus who has influence or access to government officials.

“While Ms. Comfort Emmanson is in jail, the other offender who committed a more severe offence has not been held to the same standard. He has neither been arrested nor arraigned in any court.

“We must build a country where justice is fair, equal, and not selective, especially against women who are seen to be weaker. This young lady’s offence does not compare to the crimes committed daily by those parading themselves as “excellencies” while looting public funds without consequence, and yet they have not been stripped or dehumanised in the name of justice.

“The Minister of Aviation and other relevant authorities owe the public an explanation for these double standards in their adjudication.

“Justice must be just, or it is nothing at all. The rule of law, based on justice for all, must remain the guidepost of our democracy.”

Ibom Air has, also, banned Emmanson, for life,  on any of its flights.

Tinubu’s Minister, APC Chieftains Bicker Over Governor Mbah’s Defection Moves

By
Suleiman Anyalewechi
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Peter Mbah
Gov Peter Mbah

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The rumblings within the ranks of the All Progressive Congress, APC, Enugu State Chapter over the fate of Governor Peter Mbah, continued on Monday August 11, 2025, with some founding members throwing their full weight behind the Governor.

The Source reports that speculations have been rife of late suggesting that the Enugu State Governor, who was elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in 2023 ,is set to defect to the rival APC.

His rumoured defection plans which has been in circulation since President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s State visit to Enugu earlier in the year, however, began to gain traction  following the defection of some PDP Governors to the APC within the last few months.

Not a few are of the strong belief that Governor Mbah, anytime soon, may be following in the foot steps of his Delta and Akwa Ibom states counterparts.

Governors Sheriff Oborevwori and Umo Eno have since their defection to the APC, been handed down  the party’s structures and leadership positions in their various States, a development which suggests that they will be also handed automatic return thickets in 2027.

But speaking last weekend during a stakeholders meeting in Enugu, Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Chief Uche Nnaji, warned that nobody  including Governor Mbah should expect an automatic return ticket within the Enugu APC.

He spoke against the backdrop of speculations that Governor Mbah is bidding his time to firmly secure a commitment of being handed down the APC’s gubernatorial ticket before joining.

But in his speech Sunday, Nnaji advised the Governor and others who may be  harbouring entitlement mentality to just perish the thought.

“APC has come to stay; that is why from every nook and cranny, people want to join. But as we have said earlier, we want people to come in, however, we will not give them free ticket. They must go to contest.

“Anybody who wants to run for the Governorship of Enugu State, let him come to the APC, and we will go to contest. We are waiting for them” Nnaji stated.

However, while speaking on behalf of some founding members of the party, former Director General DG of Voice of Nigeria VON, Osita Okechukwu, assured the Enugu State Governor that he is “wholeheartedly welcome.”

This is as he dismissed the statement credited to Minister Nnaji ,as  ‘mere rantings’.

“We are at loss as to why Chief Nnaji who himself is a hijacker from the PDP is chasing away a performing Governor Mbah

Our goal is to win the Lion Building ( Enugu state Government House ) for the first time and join 23 other APC States to secure President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s second term victory in 2027”, Okechukwu noted

He urged the Minister to concentrate on his official duties and stop distracting and deluding himself.

The former VON DG expressed serious concern that Nnaji has not recorded any meaningful achievements since being appointed as a Minister.

“Let him face his job and stop chasing away people from the Party”,  Okechukwu warned.

Ibom Air Incident: An Eyewitness Tells Emmanson’s Story, Insists Airline Crew Was Wrong

By
The Source
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0
Ibom Air Bans Passenger For Life
Ibom Air

By Charles Igbo

A passenger, who claims  he was on Ibom Air flight from Uyo to Lagos, same flight on which Ms. Comfort Emmanson was, has blamed the crew of the Airline for the incident.

The passenger who identified himself as Tunde Ibrahim said when a flight attendant approached Emmanson over her phone, she told her (the attendant) that her phone was on  “flight mode” but the crew member did not believe her. And, that, on arrival in Lagos, she was prevented from deboarding because it was assumed she disobeyed instructions to switch off. That was, allegedly, when she resisted, and trouble began

Meanwhile, for physically attacking crew members, ground staff, and security personnel, Emmanson was, same Monday, arraigned in Court and remanded at the Kirikiri Correctional Facility, Lagos.

Following is Ibrahim in his own words (unedited):

“Do you know I was on board in that flight.

“Everything has to do with putting off your phone at the point of landing.

“And the lady said her phone was on flight mode and the crew lady became adamant until we finally landed.

“After landing, she resisted the lady from coming down saying they have invited the security to pick her up.

“Many of us pleaded but the crew members were very adamant and push the lady back while many of us left them arguing

“As at the time I get down from the aircraft the lady was calm but the crew member were treating her bad as if something was wrong between them

“I wish you all were there to see how they push the lady back on seat as if she a criminal.

“If i knew this will happened I would have waited to intervene. I condemned the way and manner the handle the situation”

“Tunde A Ibrahim”

Ibrahim’s story, however, differs from the statement released by Ibom Air, and the version that it was a passenger seated by Ms. Emmanson who took the phone from her, and switched it off.

Opinions too, are that, whatever happened on board, did not excuse her wild conduct on ground.

ADC to EFCC: Fight Corruption, Not the Opposition

By
The Source
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0
Bolaji Abdullahi
Bolaji Abdullahi

“Party says intimidating opposition through selective investigations are signs of dictatorship.”

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of carrying out selective investigations and behaving like a political hit squad for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). The party warned that this dangerous trend is eroding public trust in the institution and undermining the real fight against corruption.

In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC said the EFCC’s recent pattern of action, re-opening closed cases, digging up files from years past, and targeting members of opposition parties is not the work of an impartial anti-graft body. It is the work of a political enforcer.

The full statement read:

In recent days, several senior members of the Opposition Coalition have received EFCC summons that are clearly politically motivated. These are not fresh cases arising from new evidence but new files opened in reaction to emergent political affiliations to intimidate key opposition figures.

The EFCC was created to be a fearless defender of the Nigerian people’s trust, applying the law evenly to all, friend or foe, ruling party or opposition. Today, that vision appears to have been compromised. The Commission now operates like a department of the APC, deployed to fight government critics and opposition figures thereby achieving what the government cannot achieve through public debate.

Meanwhile, we have observed how investigations into ruling party allies quietly fade away while opposition figures are dragged before the court of public opinion with sometimes decade-old allegations that have been hastily revived and dressed up as fresh evidence. This is selective prosecution, and selective prosecution is the death of justice.

It does appear that in today’s Nigeria, one’s guilt or innocence depends on one’s party membership, not evidence. For example, since a certain former governor defected to the APC with his state’s entire political machinery, the EFCC’s investigations into his administration have vanished from public view. Not a question has been asked. Not a document leaked. Not a single update. Yet the same EFCC still somehow find means to reopen old cases against opposition leaders and pursue the stale allegations against them.

It does not augur well for the EFCC if people think that all you need to point the accusing hands of the Commission in your direction is to stand opposed to the ruling party and all that it takes for protection is to align with the government. Unfortunately, this is the widely established perception in Nigeria today, which the commission by  its recent actions, including the ongoing surreptitious harassment of opposition leaders, has given credence to.

The ADC hereby calls on all Nigerians, civil society organisations, and the independent media to resist this dangerous slide into dictatorship and misuse of public institutions to achieve partisan objectives. The EFCC does not belong to the APC. It belongs to the Nigerian people. It is funded by taxpayers, not the ruling party.

Signed,

Mallam @Bolaji
National Publicity Secretary
African Democratic Congress (ADC )

“Nwifuru Not Responsible For Radio GM’s Suspension” – Proprietor

By
Suleiman Anyalewechi
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Ebonyi State Governor - Francis Nwifuru
Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The Chairman of Legacy Radio Station, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Senator Obinna Ogba, on Monday August 11, 2025, distanced the State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, from events which led to the suspension of Godfrey Chikwere, the General Manager of the private media outfit .

The Source reports that Chikwere was on  Saturday August 10 , suspended indefinitely by the Management of the Radio Station for his alleged scathing criticism of Governor Nwifuru.

Chikwere was said to have used his personally anchored talk show to launch a scurrilous tirade against the Governor’s leadership style .

He was said to have specifically described the Ebonyi State Governor as a weakling, who is not in control of his Government.

Expectedly, the suspension has been drawing defeaning flaks and outright condemnation from not a few people within and outside Ebonyi State.

The critics perceive the development as an unmitigated assault on press freedom and democracy in the country.

There have also been widespread insinuations that the suspension may have been strongly influenced by Governor Nwifuru, using his close personal and political relationship with Senator Ogba, the proprietor of the Radio Station.

Instructively, Chikwere, popular as Baby Mouth, within the media circle in the State, has pleaded his innocence, insisting that he has always adhered to professional standards in his activities.

He noted that during the said talk show, he conducted himself professionally.

” I never had a hidden agenda ,or personal interest, but just communicated my opinion. I have the Governor’s interest at heart, and I think such was misunderstood”, he noted .

Curiously, his position on the supposed weakness of the Governor has resonated with a larger part of the residents.

But while reacting to the development, Senator Ogba who represented Ebonyi North Senatorial District at the National Assembly, insisted that Chikwere’s suspension was informed by his flagrant disregard for the Radio Station’s Code of Conduct.

According to the former Senate Committee Chairman on Sports, Chikwere had, before now, been severally cautioned for his tendency of flouting established extant rules and regulations guiding the operation of the broadcasting outfit.

“I warned him severally on the non-adherence to the station’s Code of Conduct, and now, I can bear it no longer. Chikwere, therefore, had to make way”, Ogba stated.

He expressed serious regret that Governor Nwifuru is now mischievously being dragged into a purely internal disciplinary action taken by the  Management of the Radio Station against an erring staff

” I feel so bad to hear that the Governor directed the suspension of Chikwere  because it amounts to an insult on my person.

” I inaugurated the station even before Governor Nwifuru came into office”, Senator Ogba added .

Suspected Kidnappers Arrested In Ondo While Sharing Booty

By
Ayodele Oni
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Suspected Kidnappers Arrested In Ondo While Sharing Booty

By Ayodele Oni

A few hours after the release of the abducted Staff of the Ondo State-owned Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), Mr Omoniyi Eleyinmi, three of his suspected kidnappers have been arrested.

Eleyinmi, regained his freedom on Sunday, after an undisclosed ransom was paid, according to one of his colleagues.

In a  a viral video, the suspects were apprehended while sharing the money collected for Eleyinmi’s release in the forest around Ago panu, a village between Oba Akoko and Owo in Ondo State.

The victim was abducted by gunmen at his residence along Akungba-Supare Akoko road last week’s Sunday.

The suspects were said to have been arrested by local hunters.

However, confirming the arrest, the Ondo State Police Command’s Spokesman, Mr Olayinka Ayanlade said the force men made the arrest.

The PPRO said “I can confirm to you that our operatives arrested three suspected kidnappers in connection with the kidnapping of 2 AAUA lecturer. The suspects are currently undergoing profiling and interrogation.

“Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police Ondo State Police Command, Adebowale Lawal, has directed the suspects and all exhibit recovered be transferred to the anti-kidnapping squad for discreet and thorough investigation.

Update: Ibom Air: Unruly Passenger, Emmanson Charged To Court, Remanded In Kirikiri

By
Akinwale Kasali
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0
Ibom Air Bans Passenger For Life
Ibom Air

By Akinwale Kasali

Comfort Emmanson, the female Passenger who assaulted Ibom Air’s crew and clashed with airport security at the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos has been charged to court and remanded in Kirikiri Prison.

Festus Keyamo, Minister of Aviation, through his spokesperson, Tunde Moshood, made this disclosure on X Handle.

He stated: “The more reason the flying public should be more careful, the unruly passenger on Uyo-Lagos bound Ibom Air, Miss Comfort Emmanson has been charged to court and she’s now cooling off in Kirikiri.”

It would be recalled that  Emmanson, on an Ibom Air flight from Uyo to Lagos assaulted the airline’s crew and clashed with airport security at the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos on Sunday.

According to the airline, she refused to comply with the order to switch off her phone until the Pilot-in-command made an announcement, after which a fellow passenger, seated beside her, took the phone and switched it off.

The statement reads: “This action prompted a verbal tirade from Emmanson. The situation was eventually calmed, and the flight departed as scheduled.

“Upon arrival in Lagos, Emmanson waited for all other passengers to disembark and then proceeded to confront the purser who had earlier instructed her. She walked up to the unsuspecting purser, stepped on her, forcibly tore off her wig, removed her glasses and threw them to the floor, and used her footwear to assault her. She slapped her several times, and when the other cabin crew member tried to intervene, she slapped her too. She then attempted to forcibly remove a fire extinguisher to use as a weapon, an act that could have damaged and grounded the aircraft.

“By this time, the Pilot-in-Command had alerted airport security. Before security could arrive, the purser, as seen in the viral video on the internet, prevented the passenger from leaving the aircraft until security arrived. The arrival of Ibom Air Security personnel did not deter the passenger, as she attacked them as well, lashing out violently at both Ibom Air and FAAN security. She was then restrained and removed from the aircraft by force.

“Even after disembarking, she continued to assault both Ibom Air and FAAN security staff and even slapped the ground supervisor.

“The passenger was removed from the ramp and taken into custody by FAAN security and handed over to the Nigeria Police Force for further investigation.

“Ibom Air has since submitted a report on the incident to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and placed a travel restriction on Emmanson, who will no longer be permitted to fly on any of our aircraft.”

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