NBA Slams Ibom Air Over “Unlawful” Treatment of Passenger Comfort Emmanson

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has strongly criticised Ibom Air and the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) over their handling of an incident involving passenger Comfort Emmanson on August 10, 2025.

In a statement signed by NBA President Mazi Afam Osigwe and General Secretary Dr. Mobolaji Ojibara, the association described the airline’s conduct — including the imposition of a lifetime flight ban — as “excessive,” “unlawful,” and an assault on her dignity.

According to the NBA, Ms. Emmanson was forcibly removed from the aircraft, stripped in public, and humiliated in an incident captured on video and widely shared online. The association condemned the act as degrading, a violation of her privacy, and far below the professional standards expected in aviation.

The body also pointed to emerging footage showing an airline crew member preventing Ms. Emmanson from leaving the aircraft, suggesting possible false imprisonment and an escalation of the conflict. The NBA urged authorities to carry out an independent investigation before any penalties are enforced.

On the lifetime flight ban, the association argued that Ms. Emmanson was denied the right to defend herself, making the sanction both legally and morally unjustifiable. It also stressed that the power to restrict passengers rests with statutory regulators, not private airlines or associations acting unilaterally.

The NBA further condemned the filming and distribution of footage exposing Ms. Emmanson’s nudity, calling it a serious invasion of privacy and a criminal act. It demanded that those responsible for recording and releasing the unedited video be identified and prosecuted.

“Such behaviour undermines public trust and strips citizens of their fundamental right to dignity,” the statement concluded.