The decision to remand Comfort Emmanson, a female passenger accused of assaulting an Ibom Air crew member and airport security officers, has triggered widespread outrage and allegations of double standards in Nigeria’s aviation sector.
The incident occurred on a Uyo–Lagos flight on Sunday when Emmanson allegedly refused multiple instructions to switch off her phone before takeoff. Viral videos show her slapping and kicking airline staff, including a female air hostess, before being forcefully removed from the aircraft.
Ibom Air claimed she also attempted to use a fire extinguisher as a weapon before being restrained. The airline has since imposed a lifetime travel ban on her and submitted a report to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority.
Confirming the development, Tunde Moshood, Special Adviser on Media and Communications to the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, announced on Monday that Emmanson had been charged to court and remanded in Kirikiri Correctional Centre.
However, the decision has sparked online backlash, with many Nigerians drawing comparisons to the recent case of Fuji music legend Wasiu Ayinde (KWAM 1), who allegedly disrupted a ValueJet flight in Abuja but faced no legal action.
Social media users accused authorities of favouring influential figures while enforcing harsh punishments on ordinary citizens. Critics argued that KWAM 1’s alleged obstruction, pouring of alcohol on a pilot, and interference with a plane on the runway were more severe than Emmanson’s offence, yet he walked free.
Prominent voices, including political aide Paul Ibe, questioned why the same swift punitive measures were not applied to KWAM 1. “Maybe it was because Comfort is not a friend of the president,” he wrote, calling on authorities to ensure equal treatment under the law.
The debate has also spread to Facebook, where users demanded that both incidents be treated with the same urgency to maintain credibility in Nigeria’s justice system.
As public pressure mounts, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria has reiterated its call for passengers to strictly comply with aviation rules to ensure safety and order in air travel.
