Ibom Air incident: Female passenger’s remand ignites selective justice uproar

Ibom air incident

The remand of female passenger, Comfort Emmanson, in Kirikiri Correctional Centre for allegedly assaulting an Ibom Air cabin crew member and some security officers during a Uyo–Lagos flight on Sunday has triggered public outrage and accusations of selective justice.

Viral videos captured Emmanson slapping and kicking airline and airport officials, including a female air hostess, after she allegedly refused repeated instructions to switch off her phone before takeoff.

In one clip, she was seen being dragged off the aircraft by airline security operatives.

Ibom Air, in a statement, accused the passenger of nearly using a fire extinguisher from the aircraft to attack officials before being restrained.

The airline confirmed it had reported the incident to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and had imposed a permanent travel ban on Emmanson.

“Ibom Air has since submitted a report on the incident to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and placed a travel restriction on Ms Emmanson, who will no longer be permitted to fly on any of our aircraft,” the airline stated.

The Special Adviser on Media and Communications to the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Tunde Moshood, confirmed in a statement on Monday that Emmanson had been charged to court and remanded in prison.

“All the more reason the flying public should be more careful—the unruly passenger on the Uyo–Lagos-bound Ibom Air, Miss Comfort Emmanson, has been charged to court, and she’s now cooling off in Kirikiri,” Moshood said via his verified X account, @TundeMoshoody.

However, the revelation has sparked outrage online, with many Nigerians accusing the airline authorities of double standards, citing the case of Fuji musician, Wasiu Ayinde, also known as KWAM 1, who allegedly obstructed a ValueJet flight in Abuja last week but faced no such consequences.