Comfort Emmanson, a passenger involved in a controversy with Ibom Air, has spoken out about the August 10 incident that led to her arrest and arraignment.
According to Emmanson, the ordeal began when a flight attendant, Juliana, insisted she switch off her phone, which had a faulty power button, rather than placing it in flight mode.
Emmanson claimed the situation escalated upon landing in Lagos when Juliana stopped her from disembarking, stared at herà with a “bad eye,” and pushed her back into the aircraft, dragging her wig, tearing her clothes, and breaking her necklace.
In a video shared on her Instagram page, Emmanson expressed gratitude to supporters who stood by her during the traumatic experience, describing the incident as humiliating and painful. “They tore my clothes, exposed my body, and people were taking videos. I felt humiliated. Like, the trauma is so much on me because I cannot even go out freely anymore because my body is out there,” she said.
Emmanson denied provoking the attendant, saying, “God knows I would never poke an elderly woman old enough to be my mother. It was the pain she inflicted on me, dragging my wig and stripping me in public, that made me react.”
She later apologized for her behavior, stating it was a reaction to the pain and assault she experienced.
The incident has sparked heated debates, with some criticizing Ibom Air’s handling of the situation and others questioning the disparity in treatment between Emmanson and other passengers, including musician Wasiu Ayinde, who was involved in a similar incident.
Ibom Air has since banned Emmanson from its flights, citing a zero-tolerance policy for violence against staff. The Airline Operators of Nigeria has also placed her on a lifetime no-fly list.
