The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has criticised the arraignment and remand of Comfort Emmanson, an Ibom Air passenger accused of assault and unruly behaviour on a flight from Uyo to Lagos.
In a statement on his official X handle, Obi said that while her actions towards the airline’s crew should not be condoned, justice must be fair, equal, and not selective. He drew a veiled comparison to the recent incident involving Fuji musician Wasiu Ayinde, popularly known as K1 De Ultimate, who allegedly delayed a flight at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
“It is unacceptable that she was hurriedly taken to court and remanded, while someone who visibly held a plane from taking off and put hundreds of lives at risk is still at large, with government agencies and some state officials speaking up for him to be forgiven,” Obi said.
He stressed that the matter reflects “double standards” in Nigeria’s justice system. “While Ms. Comfort Emmanson is in jail, the other offender who committed a more severe offence has not been held to the same standard. He has neither been arrested nor arraigned in any court,” he noted.
Obi also condemned what he described as the “dehumanising” treatment of Emmanson, referring to the public stripping captured in viral footage. “Stripping her publicly was not only unnecessary but also represents the height of rascality and abuse by our agencies,” he stated.
He argued that her offence pales in comparison to crimes committed by some public officials. “We must end this selective treatment of the poor or less privileged. If justice must be served, it should be served to all, and it must be served fairly,” he said, calling on the Minister of Aviation and other authorities to explain the disparity in handling such cases.
Meanwhile, the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) on Monday announced a lifetime no-fly ban on Emmanson. AON spokesperson Obiora Okonkwo said the ban applies across all member airlines, both domestically and internationally, with immediate effect. He warned that similar sanctions would apply to any passenger engaging in such behaviour in the future.
