Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President, Afam Osigwe, has called for the retraining of Ibom Air crew members in the wake of the altercation between the airline’s hostesses and passenger Comfort Emmanson.
Speaking on Sunrise Daily on Channels Television, Osigwe recommended a formal meeting to review crew etiquette, airline ban procedures, and how such measures should be implemented “legally and in a civilised manner.”
He criticised the decision by airline staff to film Emmanson during the incident, saying it exposed her “nudity and further degraded her, subjecting her to public ridicule.”
“Airlines need to educate the air cabin crew,” Osigwe stressed, faulting “the conduct they exhibited and their overly sensitivity to incidents they should let slide, and their inability to ignore some things to de-escalate situations. Their language, tone and approach are unnecessary.”
While emphasising that passengers also have legal responsibilities when on board, the NBA chief added: “So, there is the need for training for everyone on the aircraft and everyone has a responsibility to carry out to ensure orderly conduct and behaviour on the aircraft.”
He argued that such reforms would prevent future conflicts while safeguarding the dignity of passengers and the reputation of the Nigerian aviation sector.
Referring to the case of Fuji musician Wasiu Ayinde (Kwam 1), who once obstructed a moving aircraft, Osigwe noted the contrast: “Since the Ibom Air passenger was the victim, she was given a ban, even though it has now been renounced.”
