Human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has criticised the handling of the recent incident involving Ibom Air passenger Comfort Emmanson, who was accused of assaulting a flight attendant.
In a statement on Tuesday, Sowore identified what he described as three major failings in the matter: poor customer service culture among Nigerian flight attendants, public humiliation of the accused, and what he termed “arbitrary legal persecution.”
He alleged that many flight attendants in the country treat passengers with undue hostility rather than professional courtesy, often resorting to public shaming over minor issues such as mobile phone use during takeoff. Citing international practices, Sowore noted that airlines in countries like the United States have moved towards accommodating in-flight internet use rather than enforcing outdated restrictions.
Sowore condemned what he called the “public sexual humiliation” of Emmanson, arguing that the incident could have been resolved without the use of degrading treatment or excessive force. He further criticised the legal process that followed, claiming the accused was “ambushed and sent to prison without trial” in a manner he described as discriminatory, particularly when compared with the lenient treatment of more influential individuals accused of serious offences.
The activist linked the case to a broader pattern of abuse, impunity, and selective justice in Nigeria, stating that the incident reflects systemic problems spanning customer service practices to judicial processes.
