Comfort Emmanson Will Make Billions If She Sues Ibom Air — Lawyer

Posted by Thandiubani on Tue 12th Aug, 2025 - tori.ng

Olajengbesi also challenged the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON)’s decision to place Comfort Emmanson on a “no-fly.”

A legal practitioner, Barr. Pelumi Olajengbesi has revealed that Comfort Emmanson, the lady who engaged in an altercation with officials of Ibom Air will make billions if she sues the airline.

Olajengbesi also challenged the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON)’s decision to place Comfort Emmanson on a “no-fly.”

Olajengbesi, in a post on X, argued that AON, being a voluntary trade association, has no legal power under Nigerian law to impose such a ban.

Olajengbesi stated that neither the Civil Aviation Act, 2022, nor any other Nigerian law empowered AON to ban anyone from flying.

“Nigeria is gradually sliding into impunity, with individuals and associations feeling entitled to make proclamations as if the country were a banana republic.

“The latest example is the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) purporting to place a lady involved in a physical fight today on a “No Fly” list. I wish to state categorically that no provision of the Civil Aviation Act, 2022, nor any other extant law in Nigeria, empowers the AON, a mere voluntary trade association, to impose a No Fly ban on any individual.

“Such an action is reckless and an affront to the Nigerian Constitution, particularly the fundamental rights of the affected individual,” Olajengbesi said.

According to Olajengbesi, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) is the only body legally empowered to issue and enforce nationwide flight restrictions.

“The only body legally empowered to issue and enforce nationwide flight restrictions is the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), pursuant to Sections 31 and 32 of the Civil Aviation Act, 2022. AON is not a statutory regulator and has no legal mandate to unilaterally abridge the constitutionally guaranteed right to freedom of movement under Section 41 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended),” he noted.

The lawyer argued that AON’s action is an affront to the Nigerian Constitution, particularly the affected individual’s fundamental rights to freedom of movement and fair hearing.

Olajengbesi expressed concern that Nigeria is sliding into impunity, with institutions acting outside legal bounds without consequence.

He emphasised that justice must remain the bedrock of society to prevent lawlessness.

“Furthermore, the hasty arraignment and subsequent remand of the lady, without affording her adequate time and facilities to prepare her defence, constitutes an abuse of the judicial process and a blatant violation of her constitutional right to fair hearing as enshrined in Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

“Such procedural shortcuts erode public confidence in the justice system, weaken the rule of law, and send a dangerous message that Nigeria is gradually encouraging impunity — where institutions and actors operate outside the bounds of legal authority without consequence.

“In every dispute, there are always two sides to the coin. Not even a native doctor can definitively determine who is right or wrong without properly hearing from both parties. Justice must remain the bedrock of our society, anything less is an invitation to lawlessness,” he said.