The Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, has condemned the treatment of Ms. Comfort Emmanson over an incident aboard an Ibom Air flight, describing it as a violation of her right to dignity.
The NBA in the same vein pledged to provide Emmanson with pro bono legal support to seek redress, insisting that “respect for human dignity and the rule of law must never be compromised”.
In a statement signed by its President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, and General Secretary, Dr. Mobolaji Ojibara, the NBA criticised Ibom Air and the Airline Operators of Nigeria, AON, for imposing a lifetime ban on Emmanson without a fair hearing.
According to the NBA, Emmanson was “forcibly removed from the aircraft, stripped of her clothing in public, and humiliated” with the incident filmed and shared online.
The association maintained that the conduct was degrading, unlawful, and “a grave affront to the rule of law and human dignity”.
The NBA also referred to video footage allegedly showing an Ibom Air hostess preventing Emmanson from leaving the aircraft, which it said could amount to false imprisonment and may have escalated the situation.
It called for an independent investigation by relevant authorities before any disciplinary action is taken.
On the lifetime ban, the NBA argued that only the statutory aviation regulator has the authority to suspend or restrict a passenger’s right to fly, not private associations or individual operators.
The association further condemned the circulation of unedited footage exposing Emmanson’s nudity, describing it as a criminal invasion of privacy. It urged that those responsible for recording and distributing the video be identified and prosecuted.
The NBA demanded that Ibom Air withdraw the lifetime ban, issue a public apology, and cooperate with an impartial investigation.
It also called on the Minister of Aviation, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria and security agencies to conduct a thorough inquiry and sanction those found culpable.
