Labour Party Decries Selective Justice in Ibom Air Passenger Case

Labour Party Decries Selective Justice in Ibom Air Passenger Case

The Labour Party (LP) has sparked a national debate by condemning what it calls a glaring display of selective justice in Nigeria’s aviation sector, citing the starkly different treatment of two passengers involved in separate incidents. The controversy centers on the contrasting outcomes for popular Fuji musician Wasiu Ayinde Marshall, known as K1 De Ultimate, and Ms. Comfort Emmanson, a female passenger on an Ibom Air flight.In a statement issued by Ken Asogwa, Senior Special Adviser to LP’s Acting National Chairman, Senator Nenadi Usman, the party criticized the authorities for allegedly overlooking K1 De Ultimate’s actions while swiftly punishing Emmanson. According to reports, K1 De Ultimate, a close associate of President Bola Tinubu, allegedly attempted to stop a ValueJet aircraft from taxiing at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on August 5, endangering passengers. The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) responded by placing him on an indefinite no-fly ban pending investigation and petitioning the Attorney General and Inspector General of Police. However, no arrest or arraignment has followed, and some state officials have reportedly advocated for leniency.In contrast, Ms. Emmanson, a passenger on an Ibom Air flight from Uyo to Lagos, faced severe repercussions after an altercation on Sunday. Viral videos showed Emmanson, in her twenties, allegedly refusing to switch off her phone—despite claims it was in flight mode—and assaulting a crew member. Within 24 hours, she was reportedly stripped by aviation security, arrested, charged, and remanded at Kirikiri Correctional Centre until October 6. The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) also imposed a lifetime no-fly ban on her, covering all domestic and international carriers.The Labour Party described Emmanson’s treatment as “inhumane” and a violation of her constitutional right to dignity, arguing that while her actions may have breached safety protocols, the response was disproportionately harsh. “Selective justice is no justice at all,” the LP stated, pointing to the rapid prosecution of Emmanson compared to the lack of action against K1 De Ultimate. “If you are connected to those in power, you can flout the law with impunity. If you are not, the system will come down on you with crushing force.”The LP invoked Nigeria’s national anthem, reinstated by President Tinubu, which calls for a nation where “truth and justice reign” and “no man is oppressed.” The party urged the President to ensure K1 De Ultimate faces the same accountability as Emmanson, stating, “What is good for the goose must be good for the gander.”    

Source: Labour Party Decries Selective Justice in Ibom Air Passenger Case

 - NigerianEye
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