Ibom Air: Obi Reacts to Lifetime Flight Ban on Remanded Passenger
- Peter Obi has criticised the lifetime flight ban placed on Ms. Comfort Emmanson after an altercation with an Ibom Air crew member
- He said the punishment was harsh, questioned the speed of the sanction, and called for a justice system that treats all Nigerians equally
- Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo confirmed the ban, Emmanson’s remand in Kirikiri, and measures to strengthen aviation security
Former Anambra State governor and Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has condemned the lifetime flight ban imposed on Ms. Comfort Emmanson, the passenger involved in a recent altercation with an Ibom Air crew member.
In a statement posted on his X handle on Tuesday, Obi said he had personally apologised to the airline and its crew for the incident.
Source: Facebook
He expressed concern over what he described as a hasty and disproportionate punishment against a young woman in her twenties, adding that the action reflected a justice system that treats the less privileged more harshly than the powerful.
“This morning, I woke up to learn that the passenger, the young Ms. Comfort Emmanson in her twenties, has been banned from flying for life—once again showing how our system works, proving the truth of Anacharsis’ words that ‘the law is like a spider’s web: it catches the weak, while the powerful break through with ease’,” Obi said.
Obi alleges injustice in prosecution
He questioned the process that led to the sanction, asking whether due process had been followed and whether avenues for a more compassionate resolution had been considered.
Source: Getty Images
Obi argued that while the offence was wrong, there should be room for apology, rehabilitation and understanding, especially when misconduct is linked to frustration or misplaced aggression.
The incident occurred after Emmanson allegedly refused to switch off her phone on an Ibom Air flight and physically assaulted a crew member.
Keyamo knocks both parties
Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo confirmed that the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) had imposed an indefinite ban on her from all flights within Nigeria.
The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) has also placed her on a no-fly list covering both domestic and international carriers operating in the country.
Keyamo further disclosed that Emmanson had been remanded in the Kirikiri Correctional Centre pending court proceedings. He condemned the circulation of an indecent video of the suspect during the incident and directed sanctions against those responsible.
The minister also announced plans for tighter aviation security measures and enhanced crew training to better handle unruly passengers.
Obi, however, maintained that justice must be consistent and not swayed by the social standing of the individuals involved.
“Power must never determine who is punished and who is pardoned,” he said, calling for a justice system that treats all Nigerians equally.
Expert blames poor training for cabin incident
A former flight attendant and customer engagement expert has attributed the viral in-flight altercation to inadequate preparation for extreme situations.
“The major issue I see is a lack of training in extreme cases,” the expert told Legit.ng.
“Aviation security was supposed to arrive on time to avoid blocking the exit, and they are also trained to handle any form of abusive act. So if properly trained, they can restrain any manner of madness. They were supposed to first restrain her to avoid dehumanising her.”
In the expert`s view, many businesses fail to plan for the worst:
“Most businesses never consider extreme cases in their business, so they don't enforce this awareness in everyday business operations. We always hope for the best ‘by God's grace.’”
Reno Omokri warns Nigerians
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Reno Omokri had lambasted Labour Party 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, over his stance on the recent Ibom Air incident.
Omokri alleged that Peter Obi is desperate to become president by describing the incident as a reflection of “double standards” in Nigeria’s justice system.
In a statement on Tuesday, Omokri explained the difference between the Kwam 1 airport incident and Ibom Air passenger Comfort Emmanson's saga.
Editorial assistant Ololade Olatimehin provided exclusive commentary from a former flight attendant for this report.
Source: Legit.ng
