A civil rights organisation, the Open Society on Justice Reform Project (OSJRP), has called for Ibom Air and the Ministry of Aviation to publicly acknowledge the violation of Ms. Comfort Emmanson’s fundamental rights, following the announcement that criminal charges against her would be dropped.
The group’s statement, released today, argues that while the withdrawal of charges and the lifting of a lifetime flight ban are welcome steps, they do not constitute justice.
The Ministry of Aviation, through the Honourable Minister Festus Keyamo SAN, had previously announced the withdrawal of the criminal complaint against Ms. Emmanson, hinting at her imminent release and the reversal of the lifetime ban imposed by the Airline Operators of Nigeria.
However, the OSJRP, represented by Sam Akpologun, contends that these actions fail to address the “gross breaches” of Ms. Emmanson’s constitutionally guaranteed rights. The group highlights several key issues:
The OSJRP asserts that Ms. Emmanson’s right to dignity, protected under Section 34 of the Constitution, was violated. They cite her alleged unlawful detention, public humiliation, and the circulation of her nude images online as clear examples of “inhuman or degrading treatment.” The group’s statement claims that videos and eyewitness accounts show that the incident was precipitated by a flight attendant who “removed her wig, seized and smashed her phone, and physically blocked her from disembarking.”
The press release further argues that Ms. Emmanson’s right to freedom of movement (Section 41) was breached when she was allegedly prevented from leaving the aircraft after it had landed. The OSJRP states that this “unlawful restraint” is a serious constitutional matter that requires redress.
The group also points to a violation of Ms. Emmanson’s right to a fair hearing (Section 36), stating that she was “judged, condemned, and publicly vilified” based solely on the airline’s narrative. The OSJRP maintains that Ibom Air’s imposition of a lifetime ban without allowing her to be heard is a breach of the audi alteram partem rule.
The OSJRP also criticised the Minister of Aviation’s statement, which acknowledged that “clear wrongs were committed by both offending passengers and staff of the airlines involved.” The group notes that the Minister’s statement is “silent on the disciplinary consequences” for the crew member whose actions, they claim, “precipitated this incident.”
In conclusion, the OSJRP is calling for A public acknowledgement from Ibom Air and the Ministry of Aviation of the breach of Ms. Emmanson’s rights, Disciplinary action against the air hostess involved, Payment of adequate compensation to Ms. Emmanson for unlawful detention, degrading treatment, and reputational damage and A formal review of airline disciplinary processes to ensure they comply with constitutional guarantees.
The group’s spokesperson, Sam Akpologun, emphasised that “the Constitution is not suspended at the airport gate or on board an aircraft” and that “safety in the skies will never be pursued at the expense of the dignity, liberty, and fairness owed to every citizen.”
