NBA condemns Ibom Air over passenger humiliation, demands investigation and free legal support

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has strongly condemned the treatment of Ms. Comfort Emmanson during an incident aboard an Ibom Air flight on 10 August 2025, as well as the subsequent lifetime flight ban imposed on her by the airline and the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON). The association described these actions as heavy-handed, unlawful, and a grave affront to the rule of law and human dignity.

According to the NBA, 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 recorded and widely circulated online. Such treatment, the body said, is degrading, violates her constitutional rights to dignity and privacy, and falls far short of the civility and professionalism expected in the aviation sector.

“No person, regardless of the circumstances, should be subjected to such a dehumanising experience,” the statement read.

While Ibom Air has issued its own version of events, fresh video evidence has emerged allegedly showing a flight attendant preventing Ms. Emmanson from disembarking — conduct which, the NBA noted, could amount to false imprisonment and may have escalated the situation. The association stressed that this makes an independent and impartial investigation imperative before any disciplinary measures are enforced.

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The NBA also criticised the lifetime ban imposed on Ms. Emmanson without granting her the right to be heard. “This unilateral action, endorsed by AON, blatantly breaches the fundamental principle of fair hearing and is both legally and morally indefensible,” the association said, adding that the authority to suspend or restrict a passenger’s right to travel rests solely with the appropriate statutory regulators — not private operators or associations.

Equally troubling, the NBA said, is the recording and online dissemination of indecent footage of Ms. Emmanson, describing it as “an egregious invasion of privacy and a criminal offence.” The association insisted that even if the incident was to be reported, the images should have been blurred or edited to protect her dignity. It called for the identification and prosecution of those responsible for filming and distributing the unedited footage.

The NBA demanded that Ibom Air immediately withdraw the lifetime ban, issue a public apology to Ms. Emmanson, and cooperate fully with an independent investigation. It also urged the Minister of Aviation, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), and relevant security agencies to intervene without delay.