A magistrate court in Ogba, Lagos, has ordered the remand of Comfort Emmanson, a passenger accused of assaulting airline officials aboard an Ibom Air flight from Uyo to Lagos, at the Kirikiri correctional centre until October 6.
Presiding Magistrate O.O. Salami gave the order on Monday shortly after the police arraigned Emmanson.
Naijaonpoint gathered that she is facing a five-count charge bordering on assault and wilful property damage.
According to the charge sheet obtained by The Cable, Emmanson allegedly shouted at the top of her voice, abused and assaulted crew members, and refused to disembark from the aircraft after landing, an offence said to contravene section 4(1)(a) and punishable under section 4(2) of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) Byelaw, 2005.
She was accused of slapping one Juliana Edward and hitting her cheeks with her right hand, offences said to violate sections 170(1)(a)(b) and 172 of the Lagos State Criminal Law, 2015.
In a separate count, the defendant allegedly hit another passenger, Jokpame Sagun, in the face with her slippers.
The prosecution also accused her of wilfully damaging an aircraft divider curtain valued at $2,500, property of Ibom Air, and tearing a braided wig valued at ₦110,000 belonging to Juliana Edward.
These offences, according to the police, contravene sections 170, 172, and 350 of the Lagos State Criminal Law.
Viral clips on social media captured an enraged Emmanson attacking flight attendants on board and confronting airport security officials.
Ibom Air stated that the incident occurred shortly before takeoff from Uyo, when the passenger refused to comply with standard aviation safety procedures, which required her to switch off her mobile phone.
The airline explained that a fellow passenger seated beside her switched off the device, triggering a verbal tirade.
According to Ibom Air, upon arrival in Lagos, Emmanson confronted the purser who had earlier instructed her to turn off her phone and physically assaulted her.
The airline said her behaviour posed a serious threat to the safety of its crew, passengers, and aircraft. It has since placed a travel restriction on Emmanson, barring her from flying on any of its aircraft.
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