Magistrate discharges Comfort Emmanson after police withdraw assault charges mid-trial
A Lagos court on Wednesday cleared Comfort Emmanson of all allegations stemming from a mid-air altercation aboard an Ibom Air flight, bringing an abrupt end to what could have been a protracted legal battle.
In a surprising turn at Ikeja Magistrate Court, police prosecutor Oluwabunmi Adeitan announced the sudden withdrawal of all five charges against Emmanson, who had been accused of assaulting a crew member and causing disruption during the flight.
“The complainant and airline have lost interest in this matter,” Adeitan told Magistrate Olanrewaju Salami, revealing she was acting on directives from police higher-ups. The development came weeks after Emmanson had entered a not-guilty plea to charges that could have carried serious penalties.
For the discharged defendant, the courtroom decision marked a dramatic reversal of fortune. The case had initially painted a picture of in-flight chaos, with prosecutors alleging Emmanson’s behavior risked breaching public order at 30,000 feet.
Magistrate Salami wasted no time in granting the prosecution’s request, formally striking the case from the court’s docket and ending the legal ordeal for the former accused.
Legal observers note the abrupt withdrawal raises questions about the strength of the original allegations, though neither the airline nor police offered immediate explanation for their change of heart. The resolution leaves Emmanson free to travel without the cloud of criminal charges – a far cry from the turbulence she faced when first brought before the court.
Court staff confirmed this marks the second high-profile unruly passenger case dropped in Lagos this year, signaling potential challenges in prosecuting such in-flight incidents after the fact.
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