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The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has condemned Ibom Air and the Airline Operators of Nigeria for their handling of the August 10, 2025 incident involving passenger Comfort Emmanson.
In a statement signed by its president, Mazi Afam Osigwe, and general secretary, Dr Mobolaji Ojibara, the NBA described the airline’s conduct—including imposing a lifetime flight ban—as reckless, unlawful, and a violation of Emmanson’s right to dignity.
The association said crew members forcibly removed Emmanson from the aircraft, publicly stripped her, and humiliated her, with the incident recorded and widely circulated online. It called the treatment degrading, an invasion of privacy, and a breach of aviation standards.
The NBA also noted video evidence showing an Ibom Air hostess preventing Emmanson from leaving the aircraft—behaviour it said could amount to false imprisonment and provocation. It urged the authorities to carry out an impartial investigation before taking any disciplinary action.
It criticised the ban as a breach of fair hearing, stressing that Emmanson was not given the opportunity to respond to the allegations. The NBA maintained that only statutory regulators, not private operators, have the legal authority to restrict a passenger’s right to fly.
The body further condemned the unedited circulation of footage exposing Emmanson’s nudity, calling it a criminal invasion of privacy. It insisted those responsible must be identified, prosecuted, and held accountable for undermining the public’s right to dignity and respect.
