The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has condemned in strong terms the treatment of Ms. Comfort Emmanson following an altercation aboard an Ibom Air flight on 10 August 2025.
The organisation described the airline’s actions and the lifetime ban imposed on her by both Ibom Air and the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) as “reckless, unlawful, and a grave affront to human dignity.”
In a statement signed by NBA President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, and General Secretary, Dr. Mobolaji Ojibara, the association said it was “deeply disturbing “that Ms. Emmanson was forcibly removed from the aircraft, stripped of her clothing in public, and humiliated in a manner that was filmed and circulated online.
“No person, regardless of the circumstances, should be subjected to such degrading treatment.”
The NBA stressed that the conduct breached her constitutional right to dignity and privacy and fell far below acceptable standards in the aviation industry.
The association further pointed to emerging video footage showing a cabin crew member preventing Ms. Emmanson from disembarking, suggesting this could amount to false imprisonment and may have provoked the incident.
“This underscores the urgent need for an independent and impartial investigation before any sanctions are imposed,” the statement said.
The NBA criticised the lifetime ban as a violation of the right to fair hearing, noting that Ibom Air’s version of events remains untested and that the power to impose such sanctions lies with statutory aviation regulators, not private operators or trade associations acting unilaterally.
On the circulation of indecent images, the association described the act as “an egregious invasion of privacy and a criminal offence,” calling for those responsible for recording and distributing the unedited footage to be identified and prosecuted.
The NBA demanded that Ibom Air immediately lift the ban, issue a public apology, and cooperate fully with a government-led investigation.
It also urged the Minister of Aviation, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria to sanction all those found culpable and ensure strict adherence to passenger rights.
The association pledged pro bono legal representation for Ms. Emmanson, vowing that it “will not remain silent while the fundamental rights of any Nigerian are trampled upon.
“Respect for human dignity and the rule of law must never be compromised.
“In this matter, justice must prevail.”
Full text of the NBA statement : “The treatment of Ms. Comfort Emmanson by Ibom Air was reckless and violated her right to dignity of human person”
“The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) strongly condemns the treatment of Ms. Comfort Emmanson in the incident aboard an Ibom Air flight on 10 August 2025 and the subsequent lifetime flight ban imposed on her by Ibom Air and the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON).
“These actions are heavy-handed, unlawful, and a grave affront to the rule of law and human dignity.
“It is deeply disturbing that Ms. Emmanson was forcibly removed from the aircraft, stripped of her clothing in public, and subjected to humiliation that was filmed and circulated 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.
“No person, regardless of the circumstances, should be treated in such a dehumanising manner.
“While Ibom Air has issued its own account of events, other video footage has emerged showing an Ibom Air hostess preventing Ms. Emmanson from alighting from the aircraft, a conduct that could constitute false imprisonment and a possible provocation that escalated the situation.
“This makes it all the more critical that the matter be subjected to an independent, impartial investigation by the appropriate authorities before any disciplinary action is taken against her.
“The decision to impose a lifetime ban without affording Ms. Emmanson a fair opportunity to be heard is equally troubling.
“Ibom Air has so far only presented its own version of events without giving her the chance to respond.
“This one-sided process, culminating in a ban supported by AON, breaches the fundamental principle of fair hearing and renders the decision legally and morally indefensible.
“The power to suspend or restrict a passenger’s right to fly rests with the appropriate statutory regulator, not private associations or airline operators acting unilaterally.
“The photographing, dissemination, and online circulation of indecent images of Ms. Emmanson is also an egregious invasion of privacy and a criminal act.
“Even if the incident was to be reported, the footage should have been blurred or edited in such a way that it did not expose her nudity to the public.
“Those responsible for capturing and distributing the unedited footage must be identified and prosecuted.
“Such acts erode public trust and undermine the rights of all citizens to be treated with dignity and respect.
“The NBA demands 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.
“We also call on the Minister for Aviation, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, and relevant security agencies to conduct a thorough inquiry, sanction all those found culpable, and enforce strict compliance with established standards for the humane treatment of air passengers.
“The NBA stands ready to provide Ms. Emmanson with pro bono legal support to ensure her rights are protected and that she obtains redress for the violations suffered.
“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.
Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN
President, Nigerian Bar Association
Dr. Mobolaji Ojibara
General Secretary
Source – BarristerNG
(vitalnewsngr.com)
