NBA slams Ibom Air, offers free legal representation to passenger

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has berated Ibom Air and the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) over their handling of the incident involving a passenger aboard the airline’s flight, Comfort Emmanson.

The AON had, on Monday, August 11, 2025, imposed a lifetime no-fly ban on Emmanson.

The unruly passenger was also arraigned before the Magistrates Court in the Ikeja area of Lagos State for criminal offences and was remanded at Kirikiri Correctional Centre after failing to provide adequate sureties in court.

Reacting via a statement on Tuesday, the NBA described Ibom Air’s handling of the incident as unlawful and a violation of her fundamental rights.

The NBA, in a statement signed by its President, Mazi Afam Osigwe (SAN), and General Secretary, Dr. Mobolaji Ojibara, demanded the immediate withdrawal of the lifetime flight ban imposed on Emmanson.

“The NBA demands that Ibom Air immediately withdraw the lifetime ban, issue a public apology to Ms. Emmanson, and cooperate fully with an impartial investigation into this incident,” the association noted.

The NBA also offered to provide Emmanson with free legal representation “to ensure her rights are protected and that she obtains redress for the violations 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 association stated.

The NBA also condemned how Emmanson was “forcibly removed from the aircraft, stripped of her clothing in public, and subjected to humiliation that was filmed and circulated online”, saying 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. No person, regardless of the circumstances, should be treated in such a dehumanising manner.”

The association added: “While Ibom Air has issued its account of events, other video footage has emerged showing an Ibom Air hostess preventing Ms. Emmanson from alighting from the aircraft, a conduct that could constitute false imprisonment and a possible provocation that escalated the situation.

“This makes it all the more critical that the matter be subjected to an independent, impartial investigation by the appropriate authorities before any disciplinary action is taken against her.”

The association further condemned the lifetime ban as a violation of fair hearing principles, saying Emmanson was not allowed to respond to the allegations preferred against her.

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The NBA said: “The decision to impose a lifetime ban without affording Ms. Emmanson a fair opportunity to be heard is equally troubling. Ibom Air has so far only presented its own version of events without giving her the chance to respond.

“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 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 photographing, dissemination, and online circulation of indecent images of Ms. Emmanson is also an egregious invasion of privacy and a criminal act.

“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 for capturing and distributing the unedited footage must be identified and prosecuted. Such acts erode public trust and undermine the rights of all citizens to be treated with dignity and respect.”

The association, therefore, called on the Minister for Aviation, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, and relevant security agencies to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident.

The Star