Ime Akpan
Dateline, Lagos: June 11, 2025. The senator representing Edo North and former governor of Edo State, Mr Adams Eric Oshiomhole, caused a stir at Lagos airport when he arrived late for Air Peace flight scheduled to leave for Abuja at 06:30am and was told that boarding had closed. He dropped his honorary legislative title of DSFR (Distinguished Senator of the Federal Republic) and flew into a rage, physically assaulting the airline’s staff and reportedly obstructing operations of the airline at the Murtala Mohammed Airport in Lagos. Later, he denied the allegation that he disrupted the flight. Instead, he said he rejected preferential treatment and stood up against what he described as systemic extortion and poor customer service by Nigerian airlines. But after watching the video of what played out at the airport, he programmed his mouth to MUTE mode.
Consequence: The case is still under investigation by aviation authorities. No sanctions pronounced, no life ban on flying. The senator still flies to Lagos and other places, but without airs.
Dateline, Abuja: August 5, 2025. Another politically exposed Nigerian (PEN) and Fuji musician, Mr Wasiu Ayinde Adewale Omogbolahan Anifowoshe, also known as Oluaye of Fuji, Kwam 1 (K1) de Ultimate, attempted to board a ValueJet flight with a flask containing liquid. Aviation security and flight attendants suspected it was alcohol, which is prohibited on flights, and asked him to surrender the flask. Like a typical Nigerian big man, he brushed off the directive. Not done yet, he spilled the liquid on a ground staff. The pilot intervened and was given the same treatment as the ground staff. Ultimately, K1 de Ultimate, close friend of the president and also official entertainer of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) went and blocked the aircraft with his full chest, holding up the crew and passengers alike and refusing to leave the aircraft while it moved slowly along the tarmac for take-off. He had an extremely close shave with the wing of the taxiing aircraft.
Consequence: The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) suspended the licences of the captain and the co-pilot for six months. On the directive of the minister of aviation and aerospace development, Mr Festus Keyamo, K1 was placed on a six-month aviation blacklist, while investigation into the matter continued.
Dateline, Uyo: August 10, 2025. A small fish, Miss Comfort Emmanson, on an Ibom Air flight from Uyo to Lagos, refused to switch off her phone when a female purser directed all passengers to do so. She claimed she could not operate the phone and another passenger collected the phone from her and switched it off.
She allegedly started quarrelling and upon arrival in Lagos, she reportedly attacked the cabin crew and gave the purser dirty slaps for having the guts to insist she must switch off her phone. She reportedly tried to get hold of the fire extinguisher in the aircraft to hit the cabin attendant. The pilot called the airport security. She was detained by the cabin crew while the other passengers deplaned. Emmanson was later forced down from the aircraft and in the process her nakedness was exposed.
Consequence: Emmanson was arraigned and summarily sent to Kirikiri correctional centre. The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) hurriedly set up a panel, reviewed the incident and slapped a lifetime no-fly ban on her.
In all the above cases, there is no justification whatsoever for bad behaviour. On any aircraft, the failure of one passenger to comply with the simplest safety instruction like turning off a handset can imperil every life onboard. That K1, because of political closeness, used his own body to stop a taxiing aircraft was an act of terrorism.
Section 459A of the Criminal Code, which is on obstruction of aircraft, says “Any person who, by any unlawful act, obstructs, causes an alteration to be made in the course of, or in any way whatsoever hinders or impedes the movement of any aircraft, which is in motion on or in flight over any aerodrome, is guilty of a misdemeanour and is liable to imprisonment for two years.”
Section 472 of the Penal Code criminalises the obstruction or hindrance of aircraft movement in similar terms to the Criminal Code, subject to imprisonment for up to two years, a fine or both, depending on the case.
Harassing, insulting and sometimes assaulting the flight crew and flight attendants, as alleged in Emmanson’s case, are matters taken seriously.
Even the misconduct of DSFR Oshiomhole, fueled to a large extent by the Nigerian Big Man syndrome, is unpardonable.
America’s R&B singer, R. Kelly is serving a 30-year sentence after numerous charges of racketeering and sex trafficking. His counterpart, Sean “Diddy” Combs is currently in federal custody awaiting sentencing in October after being convicted on two counts of transportation for prostitution. If these politically exposed persons were in Nigeria they would still be walking free.
What has played out in Emmanson’s case is the application of unequal consequences for unruly conduct.
NCAA not involved in Emmanson’s case – Achimugu
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has washed its hands off the ban and prosecution of Emmanson. Its spokesman, Mr Michael Achimugu said in an interview on Channels Television that the legal actions against any airline regulation violator are the responsibility of the affected airlines, not the NCAA.
He contended that in K1’s case, Valuejet decided not to take any legal action against the musician the NCAA played its part by petitioning the relevant authorities to take further action.
“There is no comparison here. In the Kwam 1 incident, the airline did not activate its right to take the passenger to court. So the NCAA did what it is supposed to do by petitioning the relevant authorities to prosecute the passenger.
“The Ibom Air incident may be because their staff was assaulted; the airline immediately activated its right to take up the matter, and then it went to court. The NCAA is not involved in the case of the Ibom Air passenger,” he said.
Achimugu used the forum to clarify the ban on K1, saying it was reviewed from six months to indefinite.
“Remember that in the Kwam 1’s case, the NCAA issued an advisory to Airlines Operators of Nigeria (AON) the operators, to ban the passenger.
“We did update that information, and his ban is now indefinite, pending the outcome of the investigation.
“So the six-month narrative no longer holds water. But, in this particular case (Ibom Air), the airline operators, having seen some of the videos of the assault, made this decision themselves. So the NCAA is not involved in this,” he added.
NBA slams airline
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has issued a strongly-worded statement condemning Ibom Air and AON for their handling of the matter.
The association pledged to provide her with pro bono legal support not only to guarantee the protection of her rights, but to ensure that she obtained redress for the violations she suffered.
The statement, signed by the NBA president, Mr Afam Osigwe and the general secretary, Dr. Mobolaji Ojibara, described as a “grave affront” to the rule of law and a violation of her fundamental human rights the imposition of a lifetime flight ban on Emmanson.
The NBA further described as “deeply disturbing” how the passenger was forcibly removed from the aircraft, stripped of her clothing in public and subjected to humiliation that was filmed and circulated online.
It said “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,” the NBA added.
The statement reads in part: “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.”
Obi, Usman, Ikpaisong Ibibio weigh in
The former presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 election, Mr Peter Obi also waded into the controversy, accusing the authorities of double standards.
“The unfortunate and dishonourable drama witnessed in Ibom Air has again brought to the fore the double standards in our lives and the inadequacies of our various security operatives in acting decently and in a civilised manner.
“This case is not just about one young woman; it is about the double standards that poison our justice system. Justice in Nigeria must never be about who is poor or powerless versus who has influence or access to government officials. While Ms. Comfort Emmanson is in jail, the other offender who committed a more severe offence has not been held to the same standard.
“He has neither been arrested nor arraigned in any court. We must build a country where justice is fair, equal and not selective, especially against women who are seen to be weaker,” he said.
Similarly, the interim national chairman of the party, Mrs Nenadi Usman accused Nigeria’s aviation authorities of “shameful double standards.”
In a statement by her media aide, Mr Ken Asogwa, she compared Emmanson’s swift arrest, arraignment and imprisonment with the lenient treatment of K1.
“KWAM 1, a close ally of the President, endangered the lives of passengers and was allowed to walk free.
“Meanwhile, Ms. Emmanson, an ordinary citizen, was publicly stripped, humiliated, jailed, and banned all within 24 hours. If this is justice, then it is the most insidious form of pretended justice,” she added.
In the same vein, the Grand Council of Ikpaisong Ibibio expressed “deep outrage” over the maltreatment of Emmanson and called for a thorough investigation of the matter.
“While Ibom Air is a business enterprise focused on profitability and service delivery, Ms. Comfort Emmanson is a daughter, a human being whose value far exceeds that of any corporate asset. Businesses can recover lost revenue, rebrand, and rebuild, but the dignity, mental health, and emotional well-being of a daughter, once violated, cannot be so easily restored.
‘We recognise that passengers have a duty to follow lawful crew instructions for safety. However, airlines and security personnel have an even greater duty to handle situations with restraint, fairness, and cultural sensitivity. Reports that Ms. Emmanson was physically blocked from exiting the aircraft and treated “as if she were a criminal” are unacceptable and demand urgent investigation,” the Council said in a statement.
The organisation therefore called for *an independent investigation by the NCAA to review all evidence, including witness accounts and recorded footage, *medical and legal protection for Emmanson to ensure her physical and emotional well-being are prioritised and *policy review by Ibom Air to guarantee that future disputes are resolved without unnecessary humiliation or force.
NCAA solicits for eye witness report
Achimugu called for eyewitnesses who were on board the Ibom Air flight from Uyo to Lagos to volunteer information on the incident.
In a statement on his X post, he said the eyewitness report was necessary to ensure fair judgment and hear the different sides of the story.
“Any person who was a passenger on that flight and witnessed the events that led to the fracas should, as a matter of urgency and fairness, reach out to me via DM or email at michael.achimugu@ncaa.gov.ng,” he wrote.
“Once verified that you were actually a passenger, we can discuss and understand other perspectives to this issue. In the interest of justice, it’s necessary to hear both sides of the story,” he said.
However, Achimugu said such information would not negate the exhibition of unruly behaviour and its ramifications, but it will ensure that every other person who was culpable down the line is held accountable.”
Achimugu added that NCAA officers in Lagos will conduct a fact-finding mission, engaging with the police and other security personnel who handled the matter.
“We will also be sending our officers in Lagos on a fact-finding mission to the police and other security personnel who were part of the entire chain of events.
“Finally, one hopes that lessons are learned from all of these events and that the necessary adjustments and improvements are implemented by all stakeholders; passengers, airline staff, aviation security, etc,” he added.
