By: Adeosun Ewatomi
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), has condemned the ill-treatment meted to Ms. Comfort Emmanson in the incident aboard an Ibom Air flight on Sunday.
The group expressed dismay over the subsequent lifetime flight ban imposed on her by Ibom Air and the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON).
The NBA has demanded that Ibom Air immediately withdraw the lifetime ban, issue a public apology to Ms. Emmanson, and cooperate fully with an impartial investigation into the incident.
NBA also called 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 all passengers.
NBA,in a statement on Tuesday, said its 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 when 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” NBA President, Mazi Afam Osuigwe (SAN), said in a statement.
He noted that the treatment and action against Emmanson was uncivil and unlawful.
He said:”These actions are heavy-handed, unlawful, and a grave affront to the rule of law and human dignity.
“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” the NBA President stated.
He noted that while Ibom Air has issued its own account of events, “other video footage has emerged showing an lbom Air hostess preventing Ms. Emmanson from alighting from the aircraft, a conduct that could constitute false imprisonment and a possible provocation that escalated the situation”.
According to the NBA, the development makes it all the 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 decision to impose a lifetime ban without affording Ms. Emmanson a fair opportunity to be heard is equally troubling.
“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 NBA President said.
He maintained that 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.
NBA argued that the photographing, dissemination, and online circulation of indecent images of Ms. Emmanson, constituted 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” Osuigwe reasoned, insisting that those behind that heinous act should be fished out and punished accordingly.
“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” Osuigwe added.