The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has clarified its role in two recent passenger incidents, stating that it was not the agency but the airline, Ibom Air, that pressed charges against Comfort Emmanson.
On Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Tuesday, NCAA Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection Mike Achimugu highlighted that the authority only intervenes where appropriate and within its powers.
Achimugu stated in the case involving Fuji musician Wasiu Ayinde, also known as K1 De Ultimate or Kwam 1, “The airline did not exercise its authority to take the passenger to court. As a result, the NCAA petitioned the necessary authorities to prosecute the passenger and issued an advisory to Nigerian airline operators to have the person blacklisted,” Achimugu stated.
However, in the Ibom Air case, where a passenger assaulted an airline employee, he explained that the carrier quickly utilised its right to pursue the matter in court.
“Maybe because their staff had been assaulted, the airline immediately activated its right to take up the matter, and it went to court, so the NCAA is not involved in the case of the Ibom Air passenger,” he said.
Achimugu emphasised that both incidents demonstrate that the aviation system is being challenged and that “there’s enough blame to go around for FAAN, AVSEC, cabin crew, and passengers.”
He highlighted that disruptive behaviour is prohibited worldwide and the significance of passengers following cabin staff instructions for safety.
He mentioned that in the Ibom Air incident, other passengers apparently seized and shut off Emmanson’s phone during the dispute.
The Nigerian Airline Operators had previously issued a no-fly list ban on passenger Comfort Emmanson on an Ibom Air trip from Uyo, the capital of Akwa Ibom State, to Lagos.
The AON’s spokeswoman, Obiora Okonkwo, issued a statement on Monday imposing a lifetime no-fly restriction on Emmanson across all AON member airlines, beginning immediately.
The group further warned that such disruptive activity will result in the same repercussions.
