Peter Obi Condemns ‘Double Standards’ in Prosecution of Ibom Air Passenger

Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has criticised the arrest and prosecution of Comfort Emmanson, a passenger accused of assaulting an Ibom Air flight attendant, describing the handling of the case as a clear example of “double standards” in Nigeria’s justice system. Emmanson was arrested after allegedly slapping a cabin crew member during boarding procedures. Following a petition from the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), she was arraigned before a Lagos magistrate court and remanded at the Kirikiri Correctional Facility pending trial. Eyewitness reports and video footage showed Emmanson being stripped during the arrest, an action that has triggered public outrage. Ibom Air has since imposed a lifetime ban on her and called on other airlines to take similar action. In a statement on Sunday, Obi said while misconduct towards airline staff is unacceptable, the treatment of Emmanson was “inhumane” and unnecessary. “Stripping the young woman in public before arraignment was totally uncalled for. It was the height of rascality and abuse by our agencies,” Obi said. He also pointed to recent incidents involving influential individuals — including Fuji musician Wasiu Ayinde, who was accused of assaulting an aviation worker — where no similar arrests or prosecutions were made. “We cannot have one law for the powerful and another for the poor. Justice must be equal, impartial, and free from bias,” he added. The case has sparked widespread debate on social media and among human rights groups, who argue that the incident highlights systemic inequality in law enforcement. Legal analysts note that while Nigeria’s Civil Aviation Regulations permit prosecution for unruly behaviour, suspects must be treated with dignity in accordance with constitutional rights. Emmanson’s trial is expected to continue later this month, with her legal team preparing to challenge both the charges and the manner of her arrest.