The Center for Human Rights and Accountability Network (CHRAN), has called on the Ministry of Aviation, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to conduct a detailed investigation in the incident involving Ibom Air officials and one Ms. Comfort Emmanson, a female passenger onboard a flight from Uyo to Lagos.
In a statement by the group’s Director, Otuekong Franklyn Isong, and the Secretary, Barr. Christopher Ekpo, on Tuesday, the group stated that such investigation should include the recording of the CCTV cameras installed in the aeroplane.
The CHRAN further condemned the lifetime ban placed on Emmanson by both Ibom Air and the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), calling it a hasty decision and urging a reversal of the ban pending the outcome of a thorough investigation into the incident.
The group called on relevant federal authorities, including the Ministry of Aviation, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to conduct a detailed investigation
It stated that Ibom Air and Emmanson will be given the opportunity to state their sides of the story with eyewitnesses who were onboard the said flight called to testify.
The CHRAN condemned the way Ms. Emmanson was bundled out of the flight, dehumanised, stripped naked, videotaped and the video circulated online, exposing her private part in the viral video to the world in gross violation of her fundamental rights to privacy and dignity.
The Rights Group also queried the knee-jerk proceedings which led to the remand of Ms Emmanson in the Kirikiri Prison shortly after the incident.
The CHRAN expressed outrage and disappointment in the handling of the incident by officials of Ibom Airline.
The CHRAN noted that while it appreciates the Airline’s decision to get Ms. Emmanson out of the aeroplane, it is sanguine that had the Airline’s officials been more professional and civil in their response to the situation, the passenger could have been contained and arrested without fracas within the airport premises upon disembarkation.
The Rights Group noted, “from the viral video, the incident escalated when the Airline’s officials prevented Ms Emmanson from disembarking from the aeroplane.”
It said that for the avoidance of doubt, while it condemns the alleged unruly behaviour of Ms. Emmanson, it expects a high level of professionalism and decency from staff members of the Airline.
