The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has clarified the circumstances that led to the prosecution of Comfort Emmanson, the female passenger accused of assaulting Ibom Air crew members, while Fuji music legend, Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, popularly known as Kwam 1, was not taken to court over an alleged disruption of a ValueJet flight.
According to Mike Achimugu, Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, NCAA, in the Kwam 1 incident, the airline did not activate its rights to take the passenger to court, while in the Ibom Air incident, the airline immediately activated its right to pursue the matter legally because its staff had been assaulted.
“There is no comparison here; it’s not a case of oranges and oranges. In the Kwam 1 incident, the airline did not activate its rights to take the passenger to court. The NCAA fulfilled its role by petitioning the authorities. In the Ibom Air incident, the airline immediately activated its right to pursue the matter legally because its staff had been assaulted,” Achimugu explained.
Read also: NBA condemns treatment of Comfort Emmanson by Ibom Air, promises legal support
The Uyo–Lagos incident involving Emmanson on Sunday drew public outrage and accusations of selective justice. Viral videos showed her slapping and kicking airline and airport staff, including a female air hostess, after allegedly refusing multiple instructions to switch off her phone before take-off. Security personnel were later seen removing her from the aircraft.
Just days earlier, Kwam 1 was accused of obstructing ValueJet’s morning service (Flight VK 201) from Abuja to Lagos on August 5, a case that also sparked widespread criticism.
Achimugu, speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief? on Tuesday? said the two incidents were not directly comparable.
He stressed that the NCAA was not directly involved in Emmanson’s prosecution, while in Kwam 1’s case, the authority advised the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) to place him on an indefinite flight ban pending investigations contrary to earlier reports of a six-month suspension.
According to Achimugu, the no-fly ban on Emmanson was also a decision by airline operators, who have the legal authority to impose such measures.
He said, “We have limited aircraft capacity in Nigeria, so any risk to an aircraft is unacceptable. These planes cost huge sums to lease or purchase. If something had happened to that aircraft, could she have afforded the repairs?”
He added that the Ibom Air aircraft was scheduled for another flight, and removing the passenger was necessary to prevent further operational disruptions.
Achimugu urged passengers to use formal complaint channels when dissatisfied, warning that unruly behaviour on flights would not be tolerated.
Read also: NCAA calls for witness accounts in Ibom Air Uyo–Lagos flight
“No matter the provocation, passengers can always file complaints with the NCAA. We will ensure fairness on all sides,” he stated.
The NCAA spokesman also appealed to passengers who were on the Ibom Air flight to provide eyewitness accounts to aid the investigation, confirming that NCAA officers in Lagos would conduct a fact-finding mission in collaboration with the police and aviation security personnel.
