John Nwokwu, a Lagos State-based lawyer, has demanded the cabin footage of the Ibom Air Uyo–Lagos flight where Comfort Emmanson, a passenger, got into an altercation with the airline’s staff.
Nwokwu made the demand in a letter he sent to the airline on August 10.
“I don’t need anybody’s consent or permission to ask for what transpired on the airplane, in line with the Freedom of Information Act, 2011,” Nwokwu said in an interview with FIJ on Friday.
READ MORE: EXCLUSIVE: Keyamo Lied. Ibom Air Did Not Want To Take Comfort Emmanson to Court
“And it must be provided.
“Of course, you can see that relevant agencies and persons, especially the ones in power, have been trying to stylishly quell the matter by offering to withdraw charges against the passenger.
“They are covering up because of the KWAM 1 incident. They are just trying to make the lady (Emmanson) feel a bit relaxed. They want to sweep the incident under the carpet.
“This is not just about the incident alone, it is about the acts of injustices we experience on a daily basis in our society, and bringing an end to them.”
Nwokwu’s letter demands the footage that showed Emmanson’s time on the plane from the moment she boarded till when she was meant to alight.
“In line with the extant law particularly sections 1, 2, 3 and 4 of FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT, 2011, we hereby demand for the video/CCTV and all the relevant information concerning and most importantly the process of boarding the Ibom Air by Ms Comfort Emmason on August 10, 2025, at the Uyo Airport and at the time of disembarkation at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos,” Njoku’s letter reads.
READ ALSO: Ibom Air, Airport Staff Liable for Unlawful Filming of Manhandled, Exposed Passenger
“This information includes but not limited to all that transpired onboard the fight on the day, also the involvement of Ms. Olubunmi Balogun Shonubi, Ms Juliana Edward and the process of handling the matter from the aircraft to the Airport Police Command.
“We are of the firm view that this friendly request would be made available to us within seven days of the receipt of same. We are optimistic, being a reputable and law-abiding organisation, you will be swift in response.”
On Thursday, FIJ published an exclusive story that revealed aviation minister Festus Keyamo’s claim that he had “conferred with Ibom Air to withdraw the Complaint against Emmanson” was untrue.
The story further revealed that the aggrieved passenger was indeed in favour of going to court, while the management of Ibom Air was against a legal tussle.
Keyamo’s other claim that Emmanson was penitent when presenting her statement in the presence of her lawyer was also found to be false, as the passenger was said to have continuously claimed she was unfairly treated and wanted eagerly to go to court on the issue.
On August 10, an altercation between Juliana Edward, an Ibom Air hostess, and Emmanson snowballed into fisticuffs and Emmanson’s forced evacuation from the plane.
Videos recorded by Ibom Air and airport staff were later found on the Internet, their highlight being the deliberate ripping apart of Emmanson’s clothes to expose her breasts for public viewing.
READ ALSO: After FIJ’s Story, Ibom Air Refunds N466,050 to Abuja Man
A visibly upset Emmanson was also filmed slapping and charging at multiple airport personnel who subsequently attempted to intervene.
Emmanson was arraigned in court and then remanded in Kirikiri prison, sparking public outrage about her treatment, with the likes of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) promising to defend her.
On Wednesday, Keyamo announced the withdrawal of criminal charges against Emmanson.
All through and after the incident, the airline and its staff members were neither condemned nor punished by relevant authorities for their actions against the passenger.
The post Lagos Lawyer Writes Ibom Air, Demands Cabin Footage of Hostess vs Emmanson appeared first on Foundation For Investigative Journalism.