The incident of Ibom Air female passenger Comfort Emmanson and her subsequent detention in Kirikiri Correctional Centre for allegedly assaulting an Ibom Air cabin crew member and some security officers during a Uyo–Lagos flight on Sunday has triggered public outrage and accusations of selective justice.
There is a viral video captured of Emmanson knocking and kicking airline and airport officials, including a female air hostess, after she blocked her from leaving the flight on the allegation that she refused repeated instructions to switch off her phone before takeoff.
In one of the clips, she was seen being naked and dragged off the aircraft by airline security operatives.
Ibom Air, in a statement, accused the passenger of nearly using a fire extinguisher from the aircraft to attack officials before being restrained.
The airline confirmed it had reported the incident to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), and instantly she was slammed with a permanent travel ban.
“Ibom Air has since submitted a report on the incident to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and placed a travel restriction on Ms Emmanson, who will no longer be permitted to fly on any of our aircraft,” the airline stated.
Special Adviser on Media and Communications to the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Tunde Moshood, confirmed in a statement on Monday where he confirmed that Emmanson had been charged to court and remanded in prison.
“All the more reason the flying public should be more careful—the unruly passenger on the Uyo–Lagos-bound Ibom Air, Miss Comfort Emmanson, has been charged to court, and she’s now cooling off in Kirikiri,” Moshood said via his verified X account, @TundeMoshoody.
However, her treatment has sparked outrage online, with many Nigerians accusing the airline authorities of double standards, citing the case of Fuji musician Wasiu Ayinde, also known as KWAM 1, who allegedly obstructed a ValueJet flight in Abuja last week but faced no punishment.
X.com user @EmmyPromise71 wrote, “The level of selective punishment in this country is overwhelming, my God! Some animals are more equal than others. Nigeria is my country.”
Another user, @Ronaldnziroma, said, “The Ibom Air girl did not block or impede an aeroplane; she just fought an air hostess, but she is in prison. KWAM 1 assaulted an air hostess and the pilot, blocked and impeded the plane, which is terrorism, and even did a show over the weekend, and he is at home chilling.”
Similarly, @yongmayor wrote, “KWAM 1 intended to stop an aircraft on the runway and poured alcohol on a pilot, yet got away with just an apology. KWAM 2 (the female passenger) refused to turn off her mobile devices, harassed the air hostess, and got banned from flying for life. Nigerian laws are only written for the poor.”
However, the anger is that why was KWAM 1 not bundled with the same energy out of the tarmac in the same manner as Emmamson? when his own was more of a hostage-taking manner, obstructed ValueJet Airline operations in Abuja last week? Maybe it was because Comfort is not a friend of the president.
“This is the reason why the authorities should have made an example of KWAM 1 to avert copycats like Passenger Comfort from breeding a KWAM 2 scenario.
“The question is, when will KWAM 1 be arraigned in court along with Comfort? The world, especially the international aviation body, is watching.”
Similar outrage spilt over to Facebook, where users demanded equal treatment for both the female passenger and KWAM 1.
A Facebook user, Simeon Owomorinle, wrote, “If this one could be remanded in prison, what about K1?”
Another user, Oma Kantaga, commented, “When K1 did his thing, it was a rich man’s thing. Poor man pikin go copywrite come fail exam.”
A similar sentiment came from Sanni Adeyemi, who noted, “Only God knows what she was coming to Lagos for. She didn’t throw tantrums where she left from. On landing in Lagos, she began to misbehave.”
Also weighing in, Toc Emmar stated, “Let them do the same to K1 and Oshiomhole. Oshiomhole started Nigeria on a path of selective justice.”
As calls for fairness grew louder, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria issued a reminder to all passengers to abide by aviation laws and regulations.