In a strongly worded statement, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has condemned the treatment of Ms. Comfort Emmanson aboard an Ibom Air flight on August 10, 2025.
The NBA described the actions of the airline and the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) as reckless, unlawful, and a gross violation of human dignity.
According to the NBA, Ms. Emmanson was forcibly removed, stripped in public and humiliated with disturbing footage of the incident circulating online.
The association noted that this degrading conduct is a serious breach of her fundamental rights to dignity and privacy.
Furthermore, the NBA highlighted a video showing an Ibom Air hostess preventing Ms. Emmanson from leaving the aircraft, an act that could amount to false imprisonment and likely contributed to the escalation of events.
The NBA has also criticised the lifetime flight ban imposed without giving Ms. Emmanson a fair hearing. It insists that such decisions must come from appropriate regulatory bodies, not private airlines acting unilaterally.
The dissemination of indecent images from the incident was also condemned as a criminal invasion of privacy. The NBA is demanding a public apology, immediate withdrawal of the ban and a full independent investigation.
The association has offered pro bono legal support to Ms. Emmanson and is calling on aviation authorities to hold all responsible parties accountable.
“Respect for human dignity and the rule of law must never be compromised,” said NBA President Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN.
