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COMFORT’S BAN AND KWAM 1 CONTROVERSY
On Sunday, August 10, 2025, Comfort Emmanson boarded an Ibom Air aircraft, going from Uyo to Lagos, unaware that her actions would soon ignite a nationwide debate on justice, privilege, and accountability.
As the cabin crew prepared for takeoff, Emmanson was asked to switch off her mobile phone—a standard safety protocol. She reportedly refused. When a fellow passenger turned off the device on her behalf, Emmanson erupted in rage.
Upon landing in Lagos, she was detained on board until other passengers had disembarked. Then, in a shocking display of aggression, she confronted the purser who had earlier instructed her. She slapped the crew member and reportedly attempted to use a fire extinguisher as a weapon.
Security personnel intervened, but Emmanson continued her assault, even allegedly striking the ground supervisor. Viral videos captured the chaos, and within hours, Ibom Air announced a lifetime ban. She was arrested, charged in court, granted bail, and remanded at Kirikiri Correctional Centre pending when she would perfect her bail conditions.
Just days earlier, another aviation incident had unfolded—this time involving Fuji legend Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, popularly known as KWAM 1. At the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport in Abuja, Ayinde attempted to board a ValueJet flight with a flask containing liquid, violating aviation regulations.
When denied boarding, he reportedly obstructed the aircraft’s movement, delaying the flight. Yet, unlike Emmanson, Ayinde was not arrested or charged. Instead, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) placed him on an indefinite no-fly list pending investigation.
The disparity in treatment sparked outrage. Activists, lawyers, and everyday Nigerians flooded social media with accusations of selective justice.
The NCAA defended its actions, stating that Ibom Air had activated its legal rights by pressing charges, while ValueJet had not.
“It’s not a case of oranges and oranges,” said NCAA spokesperson Mike Achimugu. “Airlines have the discretion to prosecute or not.”
