Ibom Air Faces NBA, Others’ Backlash Over Viral Video of Female Passenger’s Rough Handling 

Public outrage has erupted following the forceful removal of a female passenger, Ms. Comfort Emmanson, from an Ibom Air flight, with the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), civil society groups, and political figures condemning the airline’s actions as unlawful and dehumanizing.

A widely circulated video shows Emmanson being dragged off the plane by aviation security officials, partially stripped of her clothing, while onlookers protested.

Though footage also captures her slapping an airline staff member, her full account of the incident remains unheard.

The NBA, in a strongly worded statement signed by President Mazi Afam Osigwe and General Secretary Dr. Mobolaji Ojibara, described the treatment as a “grave affront” to human dignity and the rule of law. The association criticized the airline’s decision to impose a lifetime flight ban on Emmanson, calling it an “illegal and one-sided” punishment.

“No person should be subjected to such degrading treatment, let alone have it filmed and circulated,” the NBA stated, demanding an immediate withdrawal of the ban and a public apology pending an independent investigation.

Labour Party’s Interim National Chair, Nenadi Usman, accused Nigeria’s aviation and judicial systems of double standards, contrasting Emmanson’s swift arrest and public humiliation with the leniency shown to musician KWAM 1, who recently disrupted a ValueJet flight but faced no severe penalties.

Human rights activist Aisha Yesufu echoed these concerns, stating, “We cannot have two justice systems—one for the powerful and another for ordinary citizens.”

Project Alert on Violence Against Women also criticized the inconsistent handling of similar incidents, citing cases involving former Edo Governor Adams Oshiomhole and KWAM 1. The group called for uniform protocols in addressing unruly passengers and mandatory de-escalation training for aviation staff.

Ibom Air denied leaking the viral footage, attributing it to third parties. The airline’s spokesperson, Aniekan Essienette, stated that Emmanson was restrained only after she allegedly became violent and refused to disembark.

Meanwhile, the NCAA’s Michael Achimugu defended the differing responses, explaining that Ibom Air pursued legal action while ValueJet did not, leading to KWAM 1’s temporary no-fly status instead of prosecution.

The incident has sparked a national debate on passenger rights, airline accountability, and systemic bias in Nigeria’s justice system.

About The Author

Dele Fashomi

Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.

Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.

He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.

Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).

He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.

He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.

Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled:  Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.

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