The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has criticised Ibom Air and the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) for their handling of an August 10 incident involving passenger Comfort Emmanson, describing the airline’s actions — including a lifetime flight ban — as “reckless,” “unlawful,” and a violation of her right to dignity.
In a statement on Tuesday signed by NBA President Mazi Afam Osigwe and General Secretary Dr Mobolaji Ojibara, the association said Emmanson was forcibly removed from an aircraft, stripped in public, and humiliated in an incident that was recorded and circulated online.
The NBA described the treatment as degrading and a breach of privacy that fell short of professional standards in the aviation industry. It also questioned video evidence showing an Ibom Air hostess allegedly preventing Emmanson from disembarking, calling it possible false imprisonment and a provocation that could have escalated the situation.
The association faulted the lifetime flight ban imposed by the airline and backed by AON, noting that Emmanson was not given an opportunity to respond to allegations — a move it says breaches the principle of fair hearing. The NBA stressed that only statutory regulators, not private operators, have the authority to suspend or restrict a passenger’s right to fly.
It further condemned the public circulation of indecent images of Emmanson, calling it an invasion of privacy and a criminal act. The body demanded that those responsible for capturing and sharing the unedited footage be identified and prosecuted.
The NBA has urged the relevant authorities to conduct an independent and impartial investigation into the incident before any disciplinary action is taken against the passenger.
