The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has announced a free legal representative to Comfort Emmanson, the Ibom Air passenger dragged out of the aircraft.
In a statement signed by Mazi Afam Osigwe, its president, the NBA described the treatment of Emmanson by Ibom Air as reckless and a violation of her right to dignity.
Emmanson was involved in an altercation with airline staff aboard an Ibom Air flight on Aug. 10, after which she was removed from the aircraft, stripped in public and filmed, with the footage later circulated online.
The incident led Ibom Air and the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) to impose a lifetime flight ban on her.
NBA offers free legal support to Comfort Emmanson
The NBA in the statement said the airline’s actions were heavy-handed, unlawful and a grave affront to the rule of law and human dignity. It accused Ibom Air and the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) of denying Emmanson a fair hearing before imposing a no-fly ban for life on her.
The statement reads in part, “The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) strongly condemns the treatment of Ms. Comfort Emmanson in the incident aboard an Ibom Air flight on 10 August 2025 and the subsequent lifetime flight ban imposed on her by Ibom Air and the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON). These actions are heavy-handed, unlawful, and a grave affront to the rule of law and human dignity.
“It is deeply disturbing that Ms. Emmanson was forcibly removed from the aircraft, stripped of her clothing in public, and subjected to humiliation that was filmed and circulated online. Such conduct is degrading, violates her right to dignity and privacy, and falls far short of the standards of civility and professionalism expected in the aviation sector.
“No person, regardless of the circumstances, should be treated in such a dehumanising manner.”
NBA added that stopping Emmanson from leaving the plane could amount to false imprisonment and provocation.
It continued that “While Ibom Air has issued its own account of events, other video footage has emerged showing an Ibom Air hostess preventing Ms. Emmanson from alighting from the aircraft, a conduct that could constitute false imprisonment and a possible provocation that escalated the situation. This makes it all the more critical that the matter be subjected to an independent, impartial investigation by the appropriate authorities before any disciplinary action is taken against her.
“The decision to impose a lifetime ban without affording Ms. Emmanson a fair opportunity to be heard is equally troubling. Ibom Air has so far only presented its own version of events without giving her the chance to respond.
“This one-sided process, culminating in a ban supported by AON, breaches the fundamental principle of fair hearing and renders the decision legally and morally indefensible. The power to suspend or restrict a passenger’s right to fly rests with the appropriate statutory regulator, not private associations or airline operators acting unilaterally.
“The photographing, dissemination, and online circulation of indecent images of Ms. Emmanson is also an egregious invasion of privacy and a criminal act. Even if the incident was to be reported, the footage should have been blurred or edited in such a way that it did not expose her prviate part to the public.
“Those responsible for capturing and distributing the unedited footage must be identified and prosecuted. Such acts erode public trust and undermine the rights of all citizens to be treated with dignity and respect.
Apologise to passenger, NBA tells Ibom Air
The association urged Ibom Air to withdraw the lifetime ban, issue a public apology and cooperate with an impartial investigation by aviation regulators and security agencies.
The NBA said, “The NBA demands that Ibom Air immediately withdraw the lifetime ban, issue a public apology to Ms. Emmanson, and cooperate fully with an impartial investigation into this incident.
“We also call on the Minister for Aviation, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, and relevant security agencies to conduct a thorough inquiry, sanction all those found culpable, and enforce strict compliance with established standards for the humane treatment of air passengers.
Emmanson has been charged in court by the police and remanded at the Kirikiri Minimum Prison in Lagos.
