AIRPORT UNRULY BEHAVIOUR: EMMANSON REMANDED, WITH LIFE ‘NO FLY’ BAN, AVIATION MINISTER KICKS, OBI RAISES QUESTION OF BIAS
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has faulted the release online of the video of the altercation involving Ibom Airlines crew and a passenger from Uyo, Comfort Emmanson, at the Lagos airport on Sunday.
Keyamo, in a statement on his social media handle, described the video exposing intimate part of the unruly female passenger as indecent, saying that all those who played questionable roles in the handling of the matter will be made to account for their actions.
The Minister said that while the filming of Comfort Emmanson’s unruly behaviour as evidence for her prosecution was in order, the release of the video to the public to ridicule her was deplorable and unacceptable.
Meanwhile, opposition political leader, PETER OBI, has called for fairness and justice in the handling of recent cases of unruly behaviours by some air travelers in Nigerian airports.
OBI – the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, questioned the speed of the arraignment and remand of Comfort Emmanson.
With a veiled reference to a similar incident at the Abuja airport last week, involving Fuji musician, Wasiu Ayinde, popularly known as K1 De Ultimate, OBI said it was unacceptable that Emmanson was hurriedly taken to court and remanded, while someone who visibly held a plane from taking off and put hundreds of lives at risk is still walking free.
In a statement on his official X handle, OBI said that while her behaviour towards the airline’s crew should not be condoned, justice should be fair, equal, and not selective.
In the meantime, the Airline Operators of Nigeria, AON, has imposed a ‘no-fly’ ban for life against Comfort Emmanson, for allegedly assaulting airline officials on the Ibom Air flight.
AON spokesperson, Obiora Okonkwo, announced the ban against Emmanson in a statement, saying it covers flying with any of the member airlines, either domestically or internationally.