…Emmanson was dragged from an Ibom Air aircraft by security operatives, during which her blouse was torn off.
LAGOS, NIGERIA – The iNews Times | Former Anambra State Governor and Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has condemned the public stripping and forceful removal of Ibom Air passenger Comfort Emmanson, describing the incident as “dehumanising” and a stark example of double standards in Nigeria’s justice system.
A viral video showed Emmanson being dragged from an Ibom Air aircraft by security operatives, during which her blouse was torn off. The confrontation followed her earlier assault on a crew member during a flight from Uyo to Lagos, an act which led the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) to place her on an indefinite ‘No Fly’ list.
While condemning Emmanson’s unruly behaviour, Obi argued that the treatment she received was excessive and disproportionate. He compared her case to that of popular Nigerian musician King Wasiu Ayinde Marshall (KWAM 1), who was caught on video obstructing a ValueJet aircraft from taking off but faced no arrest or prosecution.
“I sincerely apologise to the Ibom Air crew who were assaulted by Miss Comfort Emmanson. We must, as a society, uphold good conduct,” Obi wrote on his X handle. “However, I must equally strongly condemn the dehumanising treatment meted out to this young woman. Stripping her publicly was unnecessary and represents the height of abuse by our agencies.”
The former governor said it was unacceptable that Emmanson was “hurriedly taken to court and remanded” while the other offender “has neither been arrested nor arraigned.”
“This case is not just about one young woman; it is about the double standards that poison our justice system. Justice in Nigeria must never be about who is poor or powerless versus who has influence,” he said.
Obi urged the Minister of Aviation and other relevant authorities to explain the perceived bias, insisting that the law must be applied equally to all offenders, regardless of status or gender.
“Justice must be just, or it is nothing at all. The rule of law based on justice for all must remain the guidepost of our democracy,” he concluded.
