NBA condemns Ibom Air over treatment of Emmanson, vows legal support
Nigerian Bar Association NBA
Abdullateef Fowewe
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has issued a strong condemnation of the treatment meted out to Comfort Emmanson during an incident aboard an Ibom Air flight on Sunday, August 10, 2025.
The NBA also denounced the subsequent lifetime ban imposed on her by Ibom Air and the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), describing these actions as “heavy-handed, unlawful, and a grave affront to the rule of law and human dignity.”
The NBA in a statement signed on Tuesday by its President Mazi Afam Osigwe and General Secretary, DR Mobolaji Ojibara, expressed deep concern over the humiliation Emmanson endured, pointing out that she was “forcibly removed from the aircraft, stripped of her clothing in public, and subjected to humiliation that was filmed and circulated online.”
The association emphasised that 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.”
Video evidence released after the incident also showed an Ibom Air hostess allegedly preventing Emmanson from exiting the plane, an act the NBA suggests “could constitute false imprisonment and a possible provocation that escalated the situation.”
The Association called for an “independent, impartial investigation by the appropriate authorities before any disciplinary action is taken.”
The NBA further criticised the process leading to the lifetime ban, pointing out that Emmanson was not given “a fair opportunity to be heard.”
According to the NBA, “Ibom Air has so far only presented its own version of events without giving her the chance to respond. This one-sided process… breaches the fundamental principle of fair hearing and renders the decision legally and morally indefensible.”
In addition, the NBA condemned the unauthorised photographing and online dissemination of indecent images of Emmanson as “an egregious invasion of privacy and a criminal act.”
The Legal Association insisted that the responsible parties “must be identified and prosecuted,” stressing that such acts “erode public trust and undermine the rights of all citizens to be treated with dignity and respect.”
The NBA has demanded that Ibom Air “immediately withdraw the lifetime ban, issue a public apology to Emmanson, and cooperate fully with an impartial investigation.”
The Association also called on aviation regulators and 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.”
Concluding, the NBA pledged to provide Emmanson with “pro bono legal support to ensure her rights are protected and that she obtains redress for the violations suffered.”
The Association affirmed its commitment to human dignity and the rule of law, declaring, “We will not remain silent while the fundamental rights of any Nigerian are trampled upon… justice must prevail.”
