The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has criticised Ibom Air and the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) for their handling of the 10 August 2025 incident involving passenger Ms Comfort Emmanson, describing the airline’s actions as “reckless”, “unlawful”, and a breach of her dignity.
In a statement signed by its president, Mazi Afam Osigwe, and general secretary, Dr Mobolaji Ojibara, the NBA condemned the treatment of Ms Emmanson, who was forcibly removed from an Ibom Air flight, stripped in public, and humiliated in an incident captured on video and widely shared online.
It read in part, “The Nigerian Bar Association strongly condemns the treatment of Ms Comfort Emmanson… 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 association alleged that video evidence shows an Ibom Air hostess preventing Ms Emmanson from leaving the aircraft, an act which could constitute false imprisonment and a provocation that escalated the confrontation. It called for an independent, impartial investigation before any disciplinary action is taken against her.
It criticised the lifetime flight ban imposed by Ibom Air and backed by AON, arguing that it breached the principle of fair hearing as Ms Emmanson was not given an opportunity to respond to the allegations.
“The decision to impose a lifetime ban without affording Ms Emmanson a fair opportunity to be heard is… 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 NBA stated.
It further described the photographing and online circulation of indecent images of Ms Emmanson as “an egregious invasion of privacy and a criminal act”, adding that such material should have been blurred before release.
The association urged authorities to identify and prosecute those responsible for capturing and distributing the unedited footage.
The NBA demanded that Ibom Air withdraw the lifetime ban, issue a public apology, and cooperate fully with an impartial investigation.
It also called on the Minister for Aviation, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, and relevant security agencies to take appropriate action.
