When Justice Has Two Faces: The Ibom Air Incident and Nigeria’s Unbalanced Scales:- By Roseson Obasi, Donko Care Foundation
Nigeria has always prided itself as a country of laws, yet time and time again, we witness a pattern that tells us otherwise a system where the rich and influential glide through scandals untouched, while the poor and voiceless are swiftly punished, humiliated, and made into examples.
In recent years, multiple incidents in our aviation sector and beyond have exposed this double standard in the most glaring way possible.Incident One: The Influential Escape Just a few weeks ago, a prominent singer widely believed to be K1 De Ultimate (Kwam1) reportedly had a heated confrontation with a ValueJet pilot and crew. The accounts described it as tense, disrespectful, and even potentially dangerous. What happened after? No arrest at the airport.No dragging through the aisles. No viral videos of humiliation. No quick court appearance.No prison sentence. The matter simply disappeared into whispers, fading from public view like smoke in the wind. The individual returned to life, career intact, dignity preserved, and the media quietly moved on.
Incident Two: The Political Exemption We have also seen similar patterns in The case of former Edo State Governor and now Senator, Adams Oshiomhole, is still fresh in public memory. When accusations or controversies arose around his conduct in various official capacities, they were met with maybe negotiations, soft landings, or outright silence from enforcement.
The system bent over backwards to ensure due process moved slowly if at all in ways that shielded him from the swiftness and public humiliation we see meted out to ordinary Nigerians.
Incident Three: My Own Ordeal with United Nigeria Airlines This is not just about other people’s stories. I, Roseson Obasi, I have lived this injustice myself.
About two years ago, I arrived at Owerri Airport very early for an 8:00 AM or thereabout United Nigeria Airlines flight. At the counter, we were informed of a long delay, the flight was pushed to about 4:00 PM. I waited the entire time, growing exhausted and frustrated.
At some point, I fell asleep in the waiting area.A cleaner woke me up, saying boarding had started. I grabbed my office bag and rushed to the gate but in my haste, I left my two phones behind.Once I sat on the plane, I realized my mistake. I asked the crew to allow me to quickly retrieve them. Instead of helping, they refused, offering no assistance and no option like sending security to collect the phones for me.
Faced with the risk of losing them, I had to force myself off the plane, ran to get the phones, and returned while people were still boarding.To my shock, they refused me entry again. I explained and pleaded, reminding them that it was their delay that caused my exhaustion and mistake. But instead of reason, they called airport security, who dragged me out, tearing my shirt and trousers in the process.
Remember, no compensation for the delayed flight, no hospitality treatment or any refreshment was made available, not even custom care services.It was humiliating. It was dehumanising. And it could happen to anyone.We went to the security office, and after reviewing my case and seeing how badly I was treated, they acknowledged the injustice. Air Peace eventually stepped in and offered me their next available flight to Lagos, a gesture that highlighted the fact that compassion and professionalism are still possible in Nigerian aviation, even if some airlines forget that.Incident Four:
The Swift and Harsh Punishment of Comfort Emmanson – Fast forward to August 2025, when Miss Comfort Emmanson had a dispute with Ibom Air crew. Instead of following de-escalation protocols, she was blocked from leaving the plane, dragged in a way that exposed her body on camera, and humiliated for the world to see.
Within hours:She was arrested.She was rushed to court. She was convicted.She was sent to prison. She was slapped with a lifetime flight ban — without a fair hearing.The speed was astonishing, but such swiftness rarely applies when the accused is wealthy or powerful.
The Bitter Truth. This is the Nigeria we live in. When you are poor, the system moves at lightning speed to punish you. When you are rich, the system moves at snail pace or doesn’t move at all.What makes this worse is that those enforcing the imbalance, airline staff, security operatives are often fellow everyday Nigerians, suffering under the same unjust system, yet used as tools to crush others with less power.
Due Process Ignored There was no reason Miss Emmanson couldn’t have been allowed to disembark peacefully and be approached at baggage claim.There was no reason to expose her body on camera.There was no reason to release an unblurred video to the public unless the intent was to shame her.
As an organization, we plead with :FAAN — review and make considerable and fair decision in the case of Miss. Comfort, also enforce justice with mercy, and enforce equal, humane treatment of all passengers.
Ibom Air — publicly explain its handling of this incident and its failure to protect passenger dignity by letting her exposed body out there.ValueJet — address why similar incidents with influential individuals are handled differently.
NCAA — establish clear, humane guidelines for handling in-flight disputes.Media Houses — stop amplifying the humiliation of powerless citizens while shielding the powerful.Why This MattersToday it is Miss Comfort Emmanson. Yesterday it was me. Tomorrow, it could be you.
Justice cannot have two faces — one soft and forgiving for the rich, one harsh and humiliating for the poor.The law must be blind to wealth, fame, and influence. It must see only truth and fairness.Nigeria cannot progress if our systems are built to punish weakness and protect power. We must build a nation where everyone is treated with equal dignity, where due process is followed for all, and where justice is not for sale to the highest bidder.
Roseson Obasi (Donko)
Donko Care Foundation
