The Nigerian Bar Association has described Ibom Air’s treatment of Comfort Emmanson, a passenger on board one of its flights on Sunday, and the lifetime flight ban slammed on her by the airline and the Airline Operators of Nigeria, as a “grave affront to the rule of law” and a violation of her right to the dignity of the human person.

This was disclosed in a statement jointly signed by the NBA president, Afam Osigwe, and general secretary, Mobolaji Ojibara, on Tuesday, titled, “The treatment of Ms. Comfort Emmanson by Ibom Air was reckless and violated her right to dignity of human person.”

Reports indicate that during the flight, an Ibom Air air hostess instructed Ms. Emmanson to switch off her phone. She responded that the device was already on flight mode, sparking a violent scuffle between her and the airline’s staff, with Ms Emmanson being stripped of her clothing in the process to yank her off the aircraft. The altercation ultimately led to her being charged to court and remanded in Kirikiri prison, pending the fulfilment of her bail conditions.

Condemning the treatment of the passenger by the airline and the AON, the NBA said, “These actions are heavy-handed, unlawful, and a grave affront to the rule of law and human dignity.”

The NBA said, “It is deeply disturbing that Ms. Emmanson was forcibly removed from the aircraft, stripped of her clothing in public, and subjected to humiliation that was filmed and circulated online. Such conduct is degrading, violates her right to dignity and privacy, and falls far short of the standards of civility and professionalism expected in the aviation sector. No person, regardless of the circumstances, should be treated in such a dehumanising manner.”

Referring to video footage showing an Ibom Air hostess preventing the passenger from alighting from the aircraft, the NBA said that conduct “could constitute false imprisonment and a possible provocation that escalated the situation,” stressing why it is “more critical that the matter be subjected to an independent, impartial investigation by the appropriate authorities before any disciplinary action is taken against her.”

The legal body also condemned the airline and the AON for not giving her a fair opportunity to be heard before imposing the ban on her, which it said should be the duty of the regulator and not theirs, while also calling on the authorities to identify and prosecute those who captured and distributed the footage without editing to avoid exposing her nakedness.

It said, “Ibom Air has so far only presented its own version of events without giving her the chance to respond. This one-sided process, culminating in a ban supported by AON, breaches the fundamental principle of fair hearing and renders the decision legally and morally indefensible. The power to suspend or restrict a passenger’s right to fly rests with the appropriate statutory regulator, not private associations or airline operators acting unilaterally,” the statement pointed out.

“The photographing, dissemination, and online circulation of indecent images of Ms. Emmanson is also an egregious invasion of privacy and a criminal act. Even if the incident was to be reported, the footage should have been blurred or edited in such a way that it did not expose her nudity to the public. Those responsible for capturing and distributing the unedited footage must be identified and prosecuted. Such acts erode public trust and undermine the rights of all citizens to be treated with dignity and respect.”

The NBA, therefore, demanded the immediate withdrawal of her lifetime ban, the issuance of a public apology to her, and full cooperation with an impartial investigation into the incident, while also promising to provide her legal support to ensure her rights are protected and that she obtains redress for the violations she suffered.

It said, “We also call on the Minister for Aviation, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, and relevant security agencies to conduct a thorough inquiry, sanction all those found culpable, and enforce strict compliance with established standards for the humane treatment of air passengers.”

“The NBA stands ready to provide Ms. Emmanson with pro bono legal support to ensure her rights are protected and that she obtains redress for the violations suffered. We will not remain silent while the fundamental rights of any Nigerian are trampled upon, whether by public authorities, private corporations, or individuals. Respect for human dignity and the rule of law must never be compromised, and in this matter, justice must prevail.”