Ibom Air: Aviation Minister Condemns Release Of Passenger’s Nud{e Pictures

By Charles Igbo

Festus Keyamo, SAN, Minister for Aviation and Aerospace Development, has condemned the release of indecent photographs taken of Comfort Emmanson, a passenger on Ibom Air from Uyo to Abuja.

Emmanson, had, on that flight on Monday, 11th August, especially, on arrival at Lagos Airport, displayed an unbelievable unruly conduct. She went physical with crew members, ground staff and Airport Security Personnel over an incident on board where she, allegedly, refused to switch off her phone on instructions to do so.

However, she was later, forcibly restrained, bundled into a bus, handed over to the Police, arraigned in Court and remanded in prison custody. But in the process of restraining her, she was literally stripped naked, and the indecent photographs, taken at the time,  released to the public via social media.

Condemning the release of such indecent photographs, Keyamo  instructed that whichever staff released them be singled out and be sanctioned.

In a statement Monday on the incident, Keyamo, who said it was a debasing of womanhood, described it as unacceptable.

In his reaction to the incident and the steps taken so far, the Minister said in part: “Aside from the indefinite flight ban imposed on the said unruly passenger (both local and international), by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, the Police had promptly arraigned her this morning at the Ikeja Magistrate’s Court for criminal offences and remanded her at Kirikiri Prison as she could not provide adequate surties in Court. I have attached the charge sheet and remand order for clarity.

“We also note the scuffle that took place between the unruly passenger and ground personnel before she was eventually subdued. This was because of her uncooperative attitude. While we support the filming of her recalcitrant behavior as evidence to prosecute her, what is deplorable is to release such evidence containing indecent exposure to the public to ridicule her. That is totally unacceptable to us. We will not fold our arms and watch the debasing of womanhood. I have, therefore, directed that whoever released that part of the video containing the indecent exposure amongst the staff, should be singled out and adequately sanctioned.

“I have also directed that the Airlines must continue to train and retrain their staff in public relations and how to deal with potentially explosive situations in order to difuse them promptly or nip them in the bud, except when it becomes inevitable. I have also directed a joint security meeting between relevant agencies next week for better coordination of security measures in situations like this or similar ones we witnessed recently.

“For genuinely aggrieved passengers, there are clearly laid down remedies to address grievances. The Consumer Protection Directorate of the NCAA has consistently advertised these remedies and there is no point trying to take the laws into one’s hands that may lead to dire consequences.”

Peter Obi, the Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 Presidential Election has, also, in a statement, condemned the public, indecent treatment meted to Ms. Emmanson.