The swift arraignment of Comfort Emmanson, a passenger accused of assaulting airline crew on an Ibom Air flight from Uyo to Lagos, has stirred public debate over alleged “double standards” in Nigeria’s justice system.
Naija News reports that Emmanson was arraigned on August 11, less than 24 hours after the incident, on a five-count charge bordering on assault and wilful damage to property. She was subsequently remanded at the Kirikiri Correctional Centre until October 6 by the presiding magistrate.
Her removal from the aircraft by security personnel, which resulted in the indecent exposure of her body, and the speed of her prosecution have drawn sharp public criticism.
The contrast has been drawn with another high-profile case involving Fuji legend, Wasiu Ayinde, popularly known as KWAM 1, aboard a ValueJet flight from Abuja to Lagos on August 5.
Nearly a week after the incident, the musician is yet to be charged, despite the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) petitioning the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) for his prosecution.
According to reports, KWAM 1 was approached by a flight attendant after being seen drinking from a flask suspected to contain alcohol, which is prohibited onboard aircraft. He allegedly refused to surrender the flask, claiming it contained doctor-prescribed medication.
Following his refusal, the crew deboarded him. The musician then reportedly moved to the front of the aircraft in an attempt to prevent it from taking off. Videos circulating online show him in a heated exchange with airport personnel before the plane eventually veered off, forcing Ayinde and others to dodge its wings.
The NCAA has since suspended the licences of two ValueJet pilots for breaching aviation safety protocol and placed KWAM 1 on an indefinite no-fly list pending the conclusion of investigations.
The agency said the musician’s conduct “amounts to an act of terrorism in some other countries.”
Michael Achimugu, NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, confirmed that the authority had petitioned the AGF and IGP, calling for a criminal investigation and prosecution in line with the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig. CARs) 2023 and other relevant laws.
Checks by The Cable show that KWAM 1 allegedly violated Parts 15, 17, and 20 of the Nig. CARs 2023.
While Emmanson’s case moved from incident to arraignment within a day, there has been no charging date announced for KWAM 1.
On Sunday, Achimugu explained that the probe requires collaboration between multiple aviation agencies, including the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), the Aviation Security Service (AVSEC), and the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA).
The AGF’s office, which has the authority to direct or discontinue prosecutions, has yet to respond to inquiries or announce the next steps.
Until the AGF acts on the NCAA’s petition, the question of when KWAM 1 will be charged remains unanswered.
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