The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has strongly condemned the treatment of Ms. Comfort Emmanson during an incident aboard an Ibom Air flight on 10 August 2025, describing it as “reckless, unlawful, and a grave violation of human dignity.”
In a statement on Monday, the NBA criticised both Ibom Air and the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) for imposing a lifetime flight ban on Ms. Emmanson without granting her a fair hearing. The association said the airline’s handling of the matter “fell far short of the standards of civility and professionalism expected in the aviation sector.”
According to the NBA, Ms. Emmanson was forcibly removed from the aircraft, stripped of her clothing in public, humiliated, and filmed in the process — footage that was later circulated online. The body described this as degrading treatment and an invasion of privacy, warning that such acts erode public trust and violate fundamental rights.
The association also referenced emerging video evidence purportedly showing an Ibom Air hostess preventing Ms. Emmanson from disembarking, an action the NBA said could amount to false imprisonment and possible provocation.
“The decision to impose a lifetime ban without affording her a fair opportunity to be heard is troubling. The power to suspend or restrict a passenger’s right to fly rests with statutory regulators, not private operators acting unilaterally,” the NBA stated.
The association called for:
- Immediate withdrawal of the lifetime ban
- A public apology to Ms. Emmanson
- An independent investigation by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, and relevant security agencies
- Prosecution of those responsible for capturing and distributing the unedited footage
The NBA pledged to provide Ms. Emmanson with free legal representation, vowing not to “remain silent while the fundamental rights of any Nigerian are trampled upon.”
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