The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has strongly condemned the treatment of Ms. Comfort Emmanson during an incident on an Ibom Air flight on August 10, 2025, describing it as reckless, degrading, and a grave violation of her right to human dignity and privacy.
Ms. Emmanson was forcibly removed from the aircraft, publicly stripped of her clothing, and humiliated in an incident that was recorded and widely circulated online. The NBA criticized the conduct as unlawful and an affront to the core principles of the rule of law and basic human rights.
In a statement signed by NBA President Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, and General Secretary Dr. Mobolaji Ojibara, the association condemned the lifetime flight ban jointly imposed on Ms. Emmanson by Ibom Air and the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), stressing that she was denied a fair hearing and the opportunity to present her side of the story. The NBA stated that private airlines and associations lack the statutory authority to unilaterally suspend a passenger’s right to fly this power resides solely with the regulatory authorities.
Further troubling footage showed an Ibom Air hostess preventing Ms. Emmanson from leaving the plane, raising concerns of possible false imprisonment and escalation of the situation. The NBA called for an independent, impartial investigation by the Minister for Aviation, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), and relevant security agencies to uncover the full circumstances and hold responsible parties accountable.
The NBA also condemned the recording, dissemination, and online circulation of unedited footage exposing Ms. Emmanson’s nudity as a criminal invasion of privacy, urging authorities to identify and prosecute those responsible.
Offering support to Ms. Emmanson, who remains in custody at the Kirikiri maximum correctional facility facing charges including assault, the NBA pledged to provide pro bono legal assistance to safeguard her rights and seek appropriate redress.
The association emphasized that respect for human dignity and the rule of law must never be compromised and vowed to stand against abuses by both public and private entities.
This development follows widespread public outcry over the handling of the incident, with calls for gender-sensitive security procedures, due process, and accountability in Nigeria’s aviation sector.