The Nigerian Federal Government, led by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo, has sparked public outcry by intervening in two separate high-profile aviation misconduct cases. The first case involved Comfort Bob, an Ibom Air passenger who was jailed for unruly behavior and assault on a flight, while the second involved popular musician Wasiu Ayinde, also known as Kwam-1, who was previously banned from flying for six months after a flight disruption.

In a move that has been widely criticized as an overreach of power, Keyamo announced Bob’s release from Kirikiri Prison and a reduction of Kwam-1’s “no-fly” ban to just one month. The minister justified his actions on grounds of “compassion” and claimed that the individuals had shown remorse. He also noted that lessons had been learned and public awareness about proper airport conduct had been raised. According to Keyamo, both the passengers and the airlines were culpable, and he had conferred with relevant bodies to reach a resolution. He directed that the charges against Bob be withdrawn, and the lifetime ban imposed on her be lifted. In Kwam-1’s case, Keyamo directed the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to reduce his ban and drop criminal complaints. He further disclosed plans to engage Kwam-1 as an ambassador for proper airport security protocol.

The government’s decision has drawn sharp criticism from a variety of sources, including lawyers, human rights activists, and aviation stakeholders. Human rights lawyer Femi Falana, SAN, condemned the government’s action, arguing that it lacked legal and moral authority. He stated that the government had preempted the legal process and that by pardoning Kwam-1, it had lost its right to prosecute any other unruly passengers in the future. Evans Ufeli, a legal practitioner, also criticized the decision, stating that “compassion cannot replace accountability.” He argued that the government’s actions risk creating a culture of impunity and that appointing Kwam-1 as an ambassador was a contradictory and damaging move.

Aviation experts expressed their dismay, accusing the minister of overstepping his authority and interfering with the regulatory functions of the NCAA. They highlighted that Nigeria is an International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and International Air Transport Association (IATA) member and that such actions would damage the country’s reputation. Group Captain John Ojikutu (retd), CEO of Centurion Security and Safety Consults, described the situation as “shameful and disgraceful,” stating that the minister had usurped the functions of the designated regulatory agencies. Similarly, Jonathan Ibrahim, former Managing Director of the defunct Nigerian Airways, said the minister “overruled everybody” and that this “Nigerian way” of doing things undermines the rule of law.

Despite the backlash, Keyamo maintained that the decisions were made on compassionate grounds and that using a “repentant offender” as a public ambassador for good conduct is a common practice. He noted that the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) were also considering using Comfort Bob for a similar role. In the end, the Ikeja Magistrate’s Court formally discharged Comfort Bob after the police withdrew the case, citing that the airline was no longer interested in pursuing the matter.