The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has strongly criticised the treatment of Ms Comfort Emmanson by Ibom Air, describing it as “reckless” and a violation of her right to dignity.
The incident occurred aboard an Ibom Air flight on 10 August 2025, leading to her forcible removal from the aircraft and the imposition of a lifetime flight ban by the airline and the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON).
In a press statement jointly signed by NBA President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, and General Secretary, Dr Mobolaji Ojibara, the legal body decried both the manner in which Ms Emmanson was treated and the subsequent lifetime flight ban imposed by Ibom Air and the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON).
According to the NBA, Ms Emmanson was stripped of her clothing in public and subjected to humiliation that was filmed and circulated online.
The association described such treatment as degrading, a breach of privacy, and far below the standards expected in the aviation sector. “No person, regardless of the circumstances, should be treated in such a dehumanising manner,” the statement read.
The NBA also raised concerns over video footage allegedly showing an Ibom Air hostess preventing Ms Emmanson from leaving the aircraft, suggesting the possibility of false imprisonment and provocation that could have worsened the situation.
The association insisted that the matter should undergo an independent and impartial investigation before any disciplinary action is taken.
The decision to ban Ms Emmanson for life without giving her a chance to present her side of the story was also faulted.
“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 statement read.
Furthermore, the NBA argued that “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 association further condemned the photographing and online circulation of indecent images of Ms. Emmanson, describing it as an “egregious invasion of privacy and a criminal act.”
NBA insisted that “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, the NBA stated, “must be identified and prosecuted.”
Demands and Offers of Support
The NBA demanded that Ibom Air and AON withdraw the lifetime ban, issue a public apology to Ms. Emmanson, and fully cooperate with an impartial investigation.
It also urged the Minister for Aviation, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, and relevant security agencies to carry out a thorough inquiry, punish those found culpable, and enforce humane passenger treatment standards.
The association pledged pro bono legal support to Ms Emmanson to protect her rights and secure redress for the violations she 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,” the NBA stated.
In a complementary statement, the NBA Human Rights Institute urged that Ibom Air compensate Ms Emmanson and publicly apologise for the “inhumane and degrading treatment” she suffered, including the release of video footage exposing her indecently.
The Institute condemned the act as a gross violation of her constitutional right to dignity under Section 34 of the 1999 Constitution.
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