Peter Obi delivered a scathing rebuke over the handling of the Comfort Emmanson incident aboard an Ibom Air flight, calling the public stripping of a young woman “dehumanising,” “unnecessary,” and emblematic of a justice system that punishes the powerless far more swiftly than the privileged.
Obi began by expressing a heartfelt apology to the Ibom Air crew who were assaulted—affirming that civility and good conduct should define our society’s measure of success.
He immediately followed by condemning the response: emergency court remand and a lifetime flight ban while others with arguably more dangerous offenses remain at large and unpunished.
He drew attention to a glaring double standard—Comfort Emmanson, a young woman in her twenties, has been jailed and barred from flying, yet those who held flights hostage or obstructed operations continue unchecked. Obi referenced the earlier case of King Wasiu Ayinde (K1 De Ultimate), who disrupted a ValueJet flight and remains free and uncharged.
Obi articulated that justice in Nigeria must not hinge on privilege or connections. If a common young woman is stripped and charged, why should powerful figures be spared similar treatment? He emphasized that selective enforcement undermines the rule of law and corrodes public trust.
Beyond criticism, Obi urged the Minister of Aviation and relevant authorities to publicly address these inconsistencies. He demanded explanations for why justice appears harsher for the poor and lenient for the connected—and called for universal fairness in law enforcement.
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has also joined arms with Obi, labelling Emmanson’s treatment illegal and degrading while offering her free legal representation and calling for an independent probe.
The move reinforces Obi’s challenge to entrenched disparities and advocates for humane treatment regardless of circumstance.
Obi’s rebuke is more than a response—it’s a wake-up call. It urges Nigeria to reset its moral compass, ensure justice isn’t discriminatory, and uphold human dignity across all lines of power. The message is clear: justice must be just—or it is nothing.
