The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has thrown its weight behind Ibom Air’s decision to indefinitely ban Comfort Emmanson, the passenger accused of assaulting crew members, stressing that the case is not comparable to the recent incident involving Fuji music legend Wasiu Ayinde, popularly known as KWAM 1.
The controversy stems from an August 10 flight from Uyo to Lagos, during which Emmanson allegedly ignored repeated instructions to switch off her mobile phone, a mandatory aviation safety requirement. Another passenger reportedly turned off the device on her behalf, sparking a heated outburst that quickly escalated.
According to Ibom Air, Emmanson physically attacked a crew member and even attempted to wield a fire extinguisher as a weapon, acts the airline said could have jeopardised the safety of the aircraft. In response, the airline banned her indefinitely, while the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) placed her on a lifetime no-fly list.
Airport security later arrested Emmanson, handed her over to the police, and she was subsequently charged in court and remanded in prison.
Speaking during an X Space session on Monday, NCAA Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Mike Achimugu, clarified that the regulator neither instructed Ibom Air to prosecute the passenger nor ordered the lifetime ban. He said the airline acted independently, relying on the evidence it had gathered.
“In this case, the airline exercised its right to act on the available evidence,” Achimugu said. “When you see a passenger hitting a cabin crew member and resisting restraint, you may have to agree the airline was within its rights. The ban could be reviewed or lifted after investigations, but for now, it is the airline’s call.”
Achimugu emphasised that airline workers are “human beings and fellow Nigerians” entitled to the same respect passengers demand, adding that no one should be subjected to physical assault while on duty. He cited a previous case involving three intoxicated passengers on a London–Nigeria flight where a lack of video evidence prevented sanctions.
He also drew a distinction between Emmanson’s case and that of KWAM 1 on a ValueJet flight, noting that in the latter, no charges were filed. Ibom Air, he said, had gone further by taking Emmanson to court, while the AON imposed its own penalties.
The NCAA spokesman explained that cabin crew have the authority to ensure passenger safety and can use non-physical methods to restrain unruly travellers. Blocking a person’s path, he said, can be considered a legitimate form of restraint.
However, the incident has triggered backlash from civil society and political figures, who argue that Emmanson has been treated more harshly than others in similar situations.
The Network for the Actualisation of Social Growth and Viable Development (NEFGAD) on Monday called for an independent investigation, accusing Ibom Air and the authorities of acting “unfairly, unjustly, and unacceptably.” The group offered Emmanson free legal aid and demanded the release of in-flight footage, arguing that viral clips show only events after the plane landed in Lagos.
NEFGAD Head of Office, Omoniyi Akingunola, suggested that preventing her from disembarking might have been a deliberate attempt to escalate the situation. He also faulted the police for what he described as a “rushed” prosecution.
Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, weighed in, condemning what he called “double standards” in Nigeria’s justice system. While apologising to the Ibom Air crew allegedly assaulted, Obi decried the “dehumanising” treatment of Emmanson, claiming she was stripped publicly before being charged and remanded — in contrast to another passenger accused of delaying a flight who has neither been arrested nor prosecuted.
“This is not just about one young woman; it is about the double standards that poison our justice system,” Obi said, urging authorities to apply the law equally, regardless of social or political status.
Activist Aisha Yesufu echoed the sentiment, accusing authorities of practising “selective justice.” In a video posted to X, Yesufu said she did not oppose the charges against Emmanson but condemned the way she was dragged from the aircraft, alleging that her dress was torn in the process, exposing her breasts — an act she labelled as “sexual harassment” and unnecessary humiliation.
She questioned why the same treatment was not meted out to KWAM 1 or former Edo State governor Adams Oshiomhole, both of whom were involved in airline-related incidents but faced no arrests or detentions.
“Yes, passengers must behave appropriately,” Yesufu said. “But justice must be the same for everyone. Selective justice is injustice.”
Ibom Air has maintained that the confrontation began before take-off and that Emmanson’s refusal to comply with safety instructions endangered all on board, leaving the airline with no choice but to act.
Leave a Reply