NEFGAD Offers Free Legal Aid to Comfort Emmanson Over Alleged Unfair Treatment by Ibom Air

By Babatunji Wusu

• NEFGAD condemns Ibom Air and regulators for unfair treatment of passenger Comfort Emmanson
• Calls for thorough investigation and release of in-flight video footage
• Criticizes Airline Operators of Nigeria for imposing lifetime ban without due process
• Faults Nigeria Police for rushing to court without proper fact-finding
• Demands prosecution of those who leaked video violating Emmanson’s privacy

The civil society organisation Network for the Actualisation of Social Growth and Viable Development (NEFGAD) has pledged to provide free legal services to Miss Comfort Emmanson following what it terms “unfair, unjust, and unacceptable” treatment by Ibom Air and associated regulatory bodies.

In a statement released in Abuja by NEFGAD’s Head of Office, Omoniyi Akingunola, the group expressed deep concerns that Emmanson was denied fair treatment. NEFGAD criticised the Airline Operators of Nigeria for hastily imposing a lifetime ban on the passenger without a fair hearing or a thorough investigation. Similarly, it condemned the Nigeria Police for prematurely taking the matter to court instead of conducting proper fact-finding.

The organisation highlighted that publicly available footage only captures part of the incident and insisted that the full in-flight video footage be released by Ibom Air to clarify whether Emmanson’s conduct was provoked. The statement emphasized that the incident began inside the aircraft, and the passenger’s reaction to being forcibly prevented from disembarking appears to have been deliberately escalated.

“It is wrong to judge the incident solely on the external clip. The situation inside the plane evidently influenced her behaviour,” NEFGAD said. The group further argued that air hostesses and cabin crew should not act as law enforcement agents, especially when their actions result in physical assault.

NEFGAD referenced a video released by Emmanson where she appealed calmly to a flight attendant blocking her exit, but was ignored until other staff arrived, allegedly manhandling and publicly stripping her.

The organisation demanded that the individuals responsible for leaking the video of Emmanson naked be investigated and prosecuted, calling it a criminal invasion of her privacy.