A female passenger, Comfort Emmanson, who allegedly assaulted airline officials on an Ibom Air flight inbound Lagos from Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, has been charged in court.

The Minister of Aviation Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, in a post on his official X handle disclosed that Emmanson was arraigned at the Ikeja Magistrates’ Court for criminal offences and remanded her at the correctional centre in Kirikiri as she could not provide adequate sureties in court.

Earlier, videos circulating on social media showed an enraged Emmanson attacking flight attendants on an Ibom Air plane and confronting airport security officials.

Ibom Air said the incident began shortly before take-off from Uyo when the passenger refused to comply with standard aviation safety procedures requiring her to switch off her mobile phone.

The airline said a fellow passenger seated beside her took the phone and switched it off, prompting a verbal tirade from Emmanson.

It stated that upon arrival in Lagos, Emmanson proceeded to confront the purser who had earlier instructed her to switch off her phone, and physically assaulted her.

According to Ibom Air said her conduct posed a serious threat to the safety of its crew, passengers, and aircraft.

The domestic carrier, thereafter, slammed a travel restriction on her, adding that she will no longer be allowed to fly on any of its aircraft.

Keyamo said while filming her unruly behaviour as evidence was in order, the release of the video to the public to ridicule her was deplorable and unacceptable.

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, condemned the release of an indecent video of the Ibom Air Passenger, Comfort Emmanson, who was accused of assaulting a crew member at the on Sunday.

Keyamo said while the filming of her unruly behaviour as evidence to prosecute her was in order, the release of the video to the public to ridicule her was deplorable and unacceptable.

The minister said he had directed that whoever released the indecent part of the video should be identified and sanctioned.

“Whilst we support the filming of her recalcitrant behaviour as evidence to prosecute her, what is deplorable is to release such evidence containing indecent exposure to the public to ridicule her. That is totally unacceptable to us.

“We will not fold our arms and tolerate the debasing of womanhood. I have therefore directed that whoever RELEASED that part of the video containing the indecent exposure amongst the staff should be singled out and adequately sanctioned.

“I have also directed that the airlines must continue to train and retrain their staff in public relations and how to deal with potentially explosive situations in order to diffuse them promptly or nip them in the bud, except when it becomes inevitable,” said the senior advocate of Nigeria in a post on X on Monday.

Keyamo said he had also directed a joint security meeting between relevant agencies next week for better coordination of security measures in situations like this or similar ones we witnessed recently.

He urged genuinely aggrieved passengers to follow laid-down remedies to address grievances.

The minister stated, “The Consumer Protection Directorate of the NCAA has consistently advertised these remedies, and there is no point in trying to take the law into one’s hands that may lead to dire consequences.

We will continue to apply equal sanctions available to us in aviation on any such erring passengers, that is, lengthy flight bans, and report the matters to other law-enforcement agencies to do their bit within their powers.”

The Airline Operators of Nigeria has imposed a no-fly life ban on a female passenger, Comfort Emmanson, who allegedly assaulted airline officials on an Ibom Air flight inbound Lagos from Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital.

The AON, in a statement by its spokesperson, Obiora Okonkwo, on Monday, said the ban on Emmanson from flying with any AON member, either domestically or internationally, for life, takes immediate effect.

Ibom Air had placed a travel restriction on Emmanson, for assaulting members of the airline’s Uyo–Lagos flight crew at the Lagos airport on Sunday.

Viral videos showed the passenger lashing slaps on one of the airline’s flight attendant, even as security officials tried to restrain her.

The airline said that shortly before take-off from Uyo, she was instructed to switch off her mobile phone.

“She bluntly refused to comply until the Pilot-in-Command made an announcement, after which a fellow passenger seated beside her took the phone and switched it off.

“This action prompted a verbal tirade from Ms. Emmanson. The situation was eventually calmed, and the flight departed as scheduled.

“Upon arrival in Lagos, Ms. Emmanson waited for all other passengers to disembark and then proceeded to confront the Purser who had earlier instructed her. She walked up to the unsuspecting Purser, stepped on her, forcibly tore off her wig, removed her glasses and threw it to the floor, and used her footwear to assault her,” the airline said.

‘Justice Should Be Fair,’ Obi Faults Arraignment, Remand Of Ibom Air Passenger
He said that while her assault on the airline’s crew member should not be condoned, justice should not be selective.

The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has faulted the arraignment and remand of Comfort Emmanson, a female passenger of the Ibom Air flight inbound Lagos from Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, who was accused of assault and unruly behaviour.

Obi, in a statement posted on his official X handle, said that while her behaviour towards the airline’s crew members should not be condoned, justice should be fair, equal, and not selective.

The former Anambra governor, while making a veiled reference to the incident involving a Fuji artiste, Wasiu Ayinde, popularly known as K1 De Ultimate, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, last week, said, “It is unacceptable that she was hurriedly taken to court and remanded, while someone who visibly held a plane from taking off and put hundreds of lives at risk is still at large, with government agencies and some state officials speaking up for him to be forgiven.

“This case is not just about one young woman; it is about the double standards that poison our justice system. Justice in Nigeria must never be about who is poor or powerless versus who has influence or access to government officials.

“While Ms. Comfort Emmanson is in jail, the other offender who committed a more severe offence has not been held to the same standard. He has neither been arrested nor arraigned in any court.

“We must build a country where justice is fair, equal, and not selective, especially against women who are seen to be weaker.”

He also condemned what he described as the “dehumanising” treatment meted out to her.

“Stripping her publicly was not only unnecessary but also represents the height of rascality and abuse by our agencies,” the former governor stated.

According to him, the lady’s offence does not compare to the crimes committed daily by those parading themselves as “excellencies” while “looting public funds” without consequence, and yet have not been stripped or dehumanised in the name of justice.

“We must end this selective treatment of the poor or less privileged. If justice must be served, it should be served to all, and it must be served fairly.

“The Minister of Aviation and other relevant authorities owe the public an explanation for these double standards in their adjudication. Justice must be just, or it is nothing at all. The rule of law based on justice for all must remain the guidepost of our democracy,” said Obi.

Airline Operators of Nigeria on Monday imposed a no-fly life ban on Emmanson, who allegedly assaulted airline officials on the Ibom Air flight.

The AON, in a statement by its spokesperson, Obiora Okonkwo, on Monday, said the ban on Emmanson from flying with any AON member, either domestically or internationally, for life, takes immediate effect.

It also said anyone who exhibited such behaviour, going forward, would suffer a similar consequence.