DAILY MENTOR NEWS
By Staff Writer | August 13, 2025
The Center for Human Rights and Accountability Network (CHRAN) has urged the Nigerian Ministry of Aviation, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the widely publicized incident involving Ms. Comfort Emmanson aboard an Ibom Air flight from Uyo to Lagos on August 10, 2025.
In a statement, CHRAN condemned the manner in which Ms. Emmanson was removed from the flight, forcibly stripped of her clothing, recorded on video, and publicly humiliated a violation of her fundamental rights to privacy and human dignity. The rights group described the incident as mishandled and decried the viral circulation of footage exposing her private parts as a gross breach of privacy.
CHRAN called for the prompt review of all available CCTV recordings from the aircraft and stressed that the investigation should include testimony from eyewitnesses on the flight. The group faulted Ibom Air officials for escalating the situation, particularly their prevention of Ms. Emmanson from disembarking, which contributed to the altercation.
While the group acknowledged the airline’s responsibility to act against unruly behavior, it emphasized that their intervention should have followed professional, civil, and gender-sensitive protocols. CHRAN expressed disappointment in how officials handled Ms. Emmanson’s removal, urging adherence to best practices especially in dealing with female passengers.
CHRAN also questioned the quick decision to impose a lifetime ban on Ms. Emmanson by Ibom Air and the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), insisting the ban be reversed pending the results of the full investigation. The group condemned the lack of fair hearing afforded to Ms. Emmanson, a process fundamental to justice under Nigerian law.
This call for investigation and due process aligns with widespread public concern over the fairness of actions taken against Ms. Emmanson, who was charged with assault and remanded in Kirikiri Correctional Centre, sparking debates about selective justice and passenger rights in Nigeria’s aviation sector.
The incident has also drawn sharp criticism from the Nigerian Bar Association and other civil society organizations, all demanding respect for human dignity and legal norms in handling such cases.