Ibom Air: Treatment violated Ms Emmanson's right to dignity - NBA

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By Madu Obi

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has strongly condemned the treatment of Ms. Comfort Emmanson in the incident aboard an Ibom Air flight on 10 August 2025 and the subsequent life flight ban imposed on her by the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON).

In a statement, the NBA described the ban as heavy-handed, unlawful, and a grave affront to the rule of law and human dignity.

According to the NBA, it is deeply disturbing that Ms. Emmanson was forcibly removed from the aircraft, stripped of her clothing in public, and subjected to humiliation that was filmed and circulated online.

Such conduct, to association noted, is degrading, violates her right to dignity and privacy, and falls far short of the standards of civility and professionalism expected in the aviation sector, noting that no person, regardless of the circumstances, should be treated in such a dehumanizing manner.

The NBA statement read: "While ibom Air has issued its own account of events, other video footage has emerged showing an ibom Air hostess preventing Ms. Emmanson from alighting from the aircraft, a conduct that could constitute false imprisonment and a possible provocation that escalated the situation.

"This makes it all the more critical that the matter be subjected to an independent, impartial investigation by the appropriate authorities before any disciplinary action is taken against her.

The decision to impose a life ban without affording Ms. Emmanson a fair opportunity to be heard is equally troubling. Ibom Air has so far only presented tts own version of events without giving her the chance to respond.

This one-sided process, culminating in a ban supported by AON, breaches the fundamental principle of fair hearing and renders the decision legally and morally indefensible.

The power to suspend or restrict a passenger’s right to fly rests with the appropriate statutory regulator, not private associations or airline operators acting unilaterally."

NBA also stressed that the photographing, dissemination, and online circulation of indecent images of Ms. Emmanson is also an egregious invasion of privacy and a criminal act, adding that even if the incident was to be reported, the footage should have been blurred or edited in such a way that it did not expose her nudity to the public.

"Those responsible for capturing and distributing the unedited footage must be identified and prosecuted. Such acts erode public trust and undermine the rights of all citizens to be treated with dignity and respect.

The NBA demands that Ibom Air immediately withdraw the lifetime ban, issue a public apology to Ms. Emmanson, and cooperate fully with an impartial investigation into this incident," the association said.