The withdrawal of criminal charges against Comfort Emmanson, the passenger accused of assaulting Ibom Air crew, has stirred widespread discussion among Nigerians. The incident took place at Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, after the flight’s arrival from Uyo.
Reports indicate that the passenger was instructed to switch off her phone while on board but allegedly refused. She was captured on video physically assaulting airline staff and was subsequently forced off the plane by the crew. She was later detained at the Kirikiri Correctional Centre.
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) also imposed an indefinite travel ban on Ms. Emmanson, barring her from flying on any airline registered with the agency.
The circumstances leading to her arrest and the NCAA’s punishment have generated mixed reactions from politicians across the political spectrum, as well as from ordinary Nigerians, who accuse the NCAA of double standards, citing the case of Fuji musician Wasiu Ayinde Marshall, popularly known as KWAM 1, who allegedly obstructed a ValueJet flight in Abuja last week but faced no such consequences.
KWAM 1 allegedly spilled alcohol on an aviation security officer who attempted to inspect the contents of a flask he was carrying, thereby disrupting flight movement.
Read Also:
Court clears Ibom Air passenger Emmanson after charges withdrawn
It’s unacceptable” – Obi condemns Emmanson’s remand over assault on Ibom Air staff
NCAA: What Kwam 1 did in most climes is considered terrorism
The singer was said to have contravened the Civil Aviation Act and was placed on a six-month flight ban; however, he was not given a life ban, and he has since apologised for his actions.
These decisions sparked a wave of reactions from Nigerians, with many accusing the authorities of double standards and selective justice.
In an interview on the incidents, Barrister Yusuf Nurudeen said the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority has the power to prosecute for both civil and criminal breaches against the provisions of the Act.
The legal practitioner added that the aviation authority can “punish people who interfere with the activities of airline staff, including pilots and air hostesses.”
While referring to several parts of the NCAA Act, the barrister said Keyamo’s orders on the incidents are constitutional.
He added that the minister, in both cases, exercised powers given to him by the president in Section 5 of the Constitution.
Speaking further, Nurudeen said Keyamo’s actions in both the Emmanson and KWAM 1 cases fall under administrative authority because the board—where the minister has a prominent role—has been empowered to regulate the affairs of the Civil Aviation Authority under Section 84.
Speaking on Emmanson’s case, he said the proper thing had been done by withdrawing the case, adding that the federal government “has the power to recommend punishment. They also have the power to withdraw.”
Obi and Sowore react
Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, has also reacted to the incident involving Ibom Air and Emmanson.
In his statement, Obi stressed that “the poor must not be punished while the powerful walk free,” indirectly referring to unpunished KWAM 1.
In a post on X, he said, “The law is like a spider’s web; it catches the weak, while the powerful break through with ease.”
Describing the matter as a “tragic irony,” the former Anambra State governor condemned the possibility of banning a young woman in her twenties for life “while we, her parents, commit worse crimes against humanity and are celebrated.”
Omoyele Sowore, a freedom fighter and activist, while commenting on the treatment of Emmanson, tweeted that there were serious problems with how she was handled after being accused of slapping a flight attendant on an Ibom Air flight.
The former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) criticised the continued harassment of adult passengers by Nigerian flight attendants over switching off their phones, noting that such demands often involve shaming or humiliating travellers.
“In the United States, for instance, no one has asked me to switch off my phone in the last ten years because airlines now encourage in-flight internet use. I have livestreamed take-offs and landings in the US as recently as 2024. I have also spoken to friends on calls and exchanged WhatsApp messages mid-flight countless times in the past year,” he said.
He described the public humiliation to which Emmanson was allegedly subjected as far more egregious, adding that the passenger was stripped of her dignity in a manner likely to cause lasting trauma, despite the fact that the situation could have been resolved without such violence, force, or degrading treatment.
Sowore also berated the legal actions that followed the case of the Ibom Air passenger.
Netizens react
Nigerians on social media have also reacted to the incidents, expressing their thoughts and opinions.
Unyime Edet claimed the government was under pressure to protect KWAM 1 due to his political connections, accusing the minister of failing to address compensation for Comfort after she was allegedly stripped and humiliated.
“You are afraid of jailing Kwam 1 because he is from Yoruba and the President’s right-hand man. Partiality of the highest order,” Edet wrote, adding that such actions reinforced global perceptions of Nigeria as a corrupt nation.
Mervin, another social media user, described the decision as “a desperate balancing act” to shield the influential musician, arguing that Comfort’s release only came because KWAM 1’s own case attracted public outrage.
“This selective compassion exposes a troubling reality: our laws lack genuine fairness, offering leniency only when it suits the narrative or protects the powerful,” Mervin lamented.
Dr. Arowolo Ayoola reacted with sarcasm, likening the development to the “season finale” of a drama series. “KWAM 2: From Kirikiri to home, thank God for compassion. KWAM 1: From airport wahala to official Airport Behaviour Ambassador, thank God for connection,” he wrote, before quipping, “Minister drops mic: ‘We have drawn the line.’”
Toma To Shun questioned why there was no mention of compensation for Comfort over her alleged public humiliation. “I knew the lady would have threatened you or your association to withdraw the case. IT IS WELL!” she wrote.
Another user, Soft Life Baby, noted that everyone in the saga faced some form of sanction except the air hostess accused of acting unprofessionally. “Why is nothing being done to her despite all the evidence from other passengers?” they asked.
DevonAjala raised concerns about Comfort’s dignity, pointing out that her alleged nudity was recorded and circulated online. “This is not justice. This is merely covering the shame of the aviation industry,” they argued.
Samuel Iduh approached the matter from a legal perspective, questioning whether Nigerian civil aviation law permits an airline to detain a passenger onboard after landing. He warned that such actions could amount to unlawful confinement, violating the right to personal liberty.
Despite the government’s attempt to resolve the matter and Keyamo’s assurance that safety and security remain paramount, many Nigerians remain unconvinced. For them, the decision has done little to restore public trust in the fairness of the justice system, especially when powerful figures appear to receive softer treatment than ordinary citizens.
The Honourable Minister ordered the withdrawal of criminal charges against Emmanson. In the latest development, KWAM 1’s ban has been reduced to one month. The federal government also announced plans to engage KWAM 1 as an ambassador for proper airport security and recommended Comfort Emmanson as an ambassador for exemplary public conduct, particularly in terms of attire and behaviour.
