Lawyer Faults Disparate Treatment in Ibom Air Female Passenger Incident

Lawyer Faults Disparate Treatment in Ibom Air Female Passenger Incident

Nigerian lawyer, Barrister Asukwo Mendie Archibong, has criticized Ibom Air’s handling of an incident involving a female passenger, Comfort Emmanson, pointing to what he sees as a double standard and a violation of her human rights. Archibong’s main argument is that the airline’s violent response to Emmanson’s behavior was disproportionate, especially when compared to how other public figures involved in similar incidents were treated.

Archibong specifically contrasted the Emmanson case with two others: one involving Senator Adams Oshiomhole and another with Fuji musician Wasiu Ayinde Marshal (Kwam 1). In both of those high-profile cases, the individuals were reportedly involved in disputes but were not physically assaulted or publicly humiliated. Kwam 1, for instance, was accused of a serious offense but was handled with dignity. In contrast, Emmanson was reportedly physically restrained, stripped, and filmed, with the video later appearing on social media—a move the lawyer condemned as dehumanizing and a violation of her constitutional rights.

The lawyer emphasized that airline crew members do not have the legal authority to arrest passengers and that their actions in this case, such as physically blocking Emmanson from leaving the aircraft, could constitute false imprisonment. He argued that the correct procedure would have been to alert security personnel. While acknowledging that Emmanson’s actions, which included yelling and slapping airline staff, were a misdemeanor, Archibong maintained that the airline’s reaction was excessive and not justified by the situation, which was not a “violent hijacking scenario.”

Archibong concluded that the incident highlights a broader issue in the Nigerian aviation sector, where airlines seem to handle conflicts with an alarming inconsistency. He suggested that if the passenger had a high-profile family connection, the outcome would have been different, and he called on airlines to apply their rules fairly and professionally. Ibom Air has not yet issued a public statement addressing the specific allegations of excessive force and humiliation.