Comfort Emmanson, the passenger accused of assaulting airline officials on an Ibom Air flight from Uyo to Lagos, has been charged to court and remanded at the Kirikiri Correctional Centre in Lagos.

Tunde Moshood, special adviser on media and communications to the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, confirmed the development in a post on his X handle on Monday. He said the case had moved to court and that the passenger was now in custody.

Ibom Air had earlier said the passenger slapped a crew member during the Uyo–Lagos flight. The airline handed her over to the police after landing and announced a ban restricting her from future travel on its flights.

The incident comes as the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority renews warnings against disruptive behaviour at airports and on flights. The regulator has said it will enforce stiffer penalties to protect crew and passengers and keep operations safe.

Details of the specific charges and the next court date were not immediately available at press time. Emmanson is presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court of law.