Human rights activist and politician Omoyele Sowore has issued a strong statement condemning the recent treatment of Comfort Emmanson, a passenger on an Ibom Air flight who was accused of slapping a flight attendant.
In a detailed critique, Sowore highlighted three major issues he believes expose systemic problems in Nigeria, ranging from customer service to the judicial system.
According to Sowore, the first problem is the pervasive attitude of many Nigerian flight attendants who, he says, treat passengers with a lack of courtesy and often harass them.
He specifically criticised the “harassment” of adults over their phones during takeoff, suggesting that a simple, polite reminder should suffice. Sowore contrasted this with his experiences in the United States, where he claims he hasn’t been asked to switch off his phone in a decade and has even livestreamed flights, used in-flight internet, and made calls mid-flight.
Sowore’s second point of criticism focuses on what he described as the “public sexual humiliation” of Emmanson. He argued that stripping her of her dignity was an act of violence that could leave her with lasting trauma, especially since the incident could have been resolved without such “degrading treatment.”
The third and “worst of all,” according to Sowore, was the “arbitrary legal persecution” that followed. He called it a “travesty of justice,” stating that Emmanson was “ambushed and sent to prison without trial.” Sowore views this as a form of selective justice, contrasting her treatment with that of more powerful individuals who, he says, have been handled with “kid gloves” for more serious infractions.
Sowore concluded his statement by asserting that this incident is not isolated, but rather a reflection of a “systemic culture of abuse, humiliation, impunity, and selective justice that continues to thrive in Nigeria.” The statement has sparked further debate online about passenger rights, airline policies, and the fairness of the Nigerian justice system.
