‘Comfort Emmanson May Go To Jail But Ibom Air Will Pay Billions’ — Lawyers

A legal practitioner, Barr. Pelumi Olajengbesi, has challenged the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON)’s decision to place Comfort Emmanson on a “no-fly” list following an incident on an Ibom Air flight.

Olajengbesi, in a post on X, argued that AON, being a voluntary trade association, has no legal power under Nigerian law to impose such a ban.

Olajengbesi stated that neither the Civil Aviation Act, 2022, nor any other Nigerian law empowered AON to ban anyone from flying.

“Nigeria is gradually sliding into impunity, with individuals and associations feeling entitled to make proclamations as if the country were a banana republic.

“The latest example is the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) purporting to place a lady involved in a physical fight today on a “No Fly” list. I wish to state categorically that no provision of the Civil Aviation Act, 2022, nor any other extant law in Nigeria, empowers the AON, a mere voluntary trade association, to impose a No Fly ban on any individual.
“ Such an action is reckless and an affront to the Nigerian Constitution, particularly the fundamental rights of the affected individual,” Olajengbesi said.

According to Olajengbesi, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) is the only body legally empowered to issue and enforce nationwide flight restrictions.

“The only body legally empowered to issue and enforce nationwide flight restrictions is the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), pursuant to Sections 31 and 32 of the Civil Aviation Act, 2022. AON is not a statutory regulator and has no legal mandate to unilaterally abridge the constitutionally guaranteed right to freedom of movement under Section 41 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended),” he noted.

The lawyer argued that AON’s action is an affront to the Nigerian Constitution, particularly the affected individual’s fundamental rights to freedom of movement and fair hearing.

Olajengbesi expressed concern that Nigeria is sliding into impunity, with institutions acting outside legal bounds without consequence.

He emphasised that justice must remain the bedrock of society to prevent lawlessness.

“Furthermore, the hasty arraignment and subsequent remand of the lady, without affording her adequate time and facilities to prepare her defence, constitutes an abuse of the judicial process and a blatant violation of her constitutional right to fair hearing as enshrined in Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

“Such procedural shortcuts erode public confidence in the justice system, weaken the rule of law, and send a dangerous message that Nigeria is gradually encouraging impunity — where institutions and actors operate outside the bounds of legal authority without consequence.

“In every dispute, there are always two sides to the coin. Not even a native doctor can definitively determine who is right or wrong without properly hearing from both parties. Justice must remain the bedrock of our society, anything less is an invitation to lawlessness,” he said.

Passenger Advised To Sue Ibom Air

Speaking with THE WHISTLER, another legal practitioner, Ayovuata Uyoyou, condemned the manner Emmanson was treated by the cabin crew members of the Ibom Air flight, urging her to sue the airline.

The lawyer believes that Ibom Air did not handle the situation professionally as Emmanson was forcefully ejected, with her clothes torn, leading to a violation of her dignity.

“I don’t know what transpired that led to the incident because it was alleged that she slapped one of the crew members. That thing she did…slapping or assaulting a crew member was wrong.

“However, every corporate organisation and institution has their own rules and regulations. For instance, every corporate organisation is supposed to exercise a high level of professionalism.

“They didn’t handle it well, because there’s a way they would have handled and disciplined the girl, and still maintain peace,” she said.

Uyoyou, who is the Executive Director of Courageous Girls, Women and Children Initiative, added that if she were in Emmanson’s shoes, she would sue the airline.

“That’s just the truth. Then let them go to court and judge this matter. She was wrong. They were wrong. And that is a ‘greater wrong’ because they showed her nakedness to the public. She should claim damages. For assault, she can go to jail for one or two years. But they will pay her millions, hundreds of millions, billions for putting her nakedness out there to the world,” she said.

Uyoyou added, “What they did is a violation of her dignity and bodily integrity. Go and read about women’s rights. It is completely against it. She’s not just a woman, she’s their passenger,” she said.

She said if Emmason was a prominent individual, the matter would have been handled in a more civil manner.

“You see what played out when this musician, Kwam 1, had his issue? When his own happened, what were they doing? They were begging him to leave. Everybody was trying to beg. But when this lady’s own happened, they felt she didn’t have a name, so they decided to treat her unruly,” she said.

The lawyer said Ibom Air must tender an apology and that the burden of responsibility rests on the airline for how they handled the passenger.

‘Comfort Emmanson May Go To Jail But Ibom Air Will Pay Billions’ — Lawyers is first published on The Whistler Newspaper