…Demands independent probe, legal redress
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has strongly criticised the lifetime flight ban placed on Ms Comfort Emmanson by Ibom Air and the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), branding the decision reckless, illegal, and a violation of fundamental human rights.
In a joint statement signed by NBA President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, and Secretary-General, Dr Mobolaji Ojibara, the association denounced Ibom Air’s handling of the situation following an incident aboard one of its flights last Sunday.
“The actions were heavy-handed, unlawful, and a grave affront to the rule of law and human dignity,” the statement read, noting that Ms Emmanson was denied a fair hearing before the ban was imposed. The association called for the immediate reversal of the ban and an independent investigation into the matter.
The NBA also condemned the public stripping of Ms Emmanson and the online circulation of unedited footage showing her nudity, describing the act as degrading and criminal, and a breach of her rights to privacy and dignity.
“It is deeply disturbing that Ms Emmanson was forcibly removed from the aircraft, stripped in public, and subjected to humiliation that was filmed and shared online. Such conduct is degrading, violates her right to dignity and privacy, and falls far short of the standards of civility and professionalism expected in the aviation sector,” the statement read.
The association drew attention to emerging footage showing an Ibom Air hostess blocking Ms Emmanson from disembarking the aircraft, which it described as potential false imprisonment and provocation that worsened the incident.
“The decision to impose a lifetime ban without affording Ms Emmanson the opportunity to be heard is equally troubling. Ibom Air has only presented its own version of events without giving her the chance to respond. This one-sided process breaches the fundamental principle of fair hearing and renders the decision legally and morally indefensible,” the statement said.
The NBA reminded all parties that the authority to suspend or restrict a passenger’s right to fly lies with statutory regulators, not private airlines or trade associations acting on their own.
It further demanded the arrest and prosecution of those who recorded and distributed the indecent footage, warning that such behaviour undermines public trust and citizens’ rights.
“We demand that Ibom Air immediately withdraw the lifetime ban, issue a public apology to Ms Emmanson, and cooperate fully with an impartial investigation into this incident,” the statement continued.
The NBA also called on the Minister for Aviation, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), and relevant security agencies to conduct a comprehensive inquiry, sanction all offenders, and enforce strict adherence to humane passenger treatment standards.
The association pledged to provide Ms Emmanson with pro bono legal representation to defend her rights and secure redress for the violations she endured.
“We will not remain silent while the fundamental rights of any Nigerian are trampled upon, whether by public authorities, private corporations, or individuals. Respect for human dignity and the rule of law must never be compromised, and in this matter, justice must prevail,” the statement concluded.
