• Login
  • Register
Nairametrics
  • Home
  • Exclusives
    • Financial Analysis
    • Corporate Stories
    • Interviews
    • Investigations
    • Metrics
    • Economy
    • Nairalytics
  • Markets
    • Currencies
    • Cryptos
    • Commodities
    • Equities
      • Company Results
      • Dividends
      • Stock Market
    • Fixed Income
    • Market Views
    • Securities
  • Sectors
    • Agriculture
    • Aviation
    • Company News
    • Consumer Goods
    • Corporate Updates
    • Corporate deals
    • Corporate Press Releases
    • Energy
    • Entertainment
    • Financial Services
    • Health
    • Hospitality & Travel
    • Manufacturing
    • Real Estate and Construction
    • Renewables & Sustainability
    • Tech News
  • Business News
    • Budget
    • Public Debt
    • Funds Management
    • Tax
  • Financial Literacy
    • Career tips
    • Personal Finance
  • Lifestyle
    • Billionaire Watch
    • Profiles
  • Opinions
    • Blurb
    • Op-Eds
    • Research Analysis
  • Recapitalization
    • Access Holdings Offer
    • Fidelity Bank Offer
    • GTCO Offer
    • Zenith Bank Offer
  • Home
  • Exclusives
    • Financial Analysis
    • Corporate Stories
    • Interviews
    • Investigations
    • Metrics
    • Economy
    • Nairalytics
  • Markets
    • Currencies
    • Cryptos
    • Commodities
    • Equities
      • Company Results
      • Dividends
      • Stock Market
    • Fixed Income
    • Market Views
    • Securities
  • Sectors
    • Agriculture
    • Aviation
    • Company News
    • Consumer Goods
    • Corporate Updates
    • Corporate deals
    • Corporate Press Releases
    • Energy
    • Entertainment
    • Financial Services
    • Health
    • Hospitality & Travel
    • Manufacturing
    • Real Estate and Construction
    • Renewables & Sustainability
    • Tech News
  • Business News
    • Budget
    • Public Debt
    • Funds Management
    • Tax
  • Financial Literacy
    • Career tips
    • Personal Finance
  • Lifestyle
    • Billionaire Watch
    • Profiles
  • Opinions
    • Blurb
    • Op-Eds
    • Research Analysis
  • Recapitalization
    • Access Holdings Offer
    • Fidelity Bank Offer
    • GTCO Offer
    • Zenith Bank Offer
Nairametrics
No Result
View All Result
Home Sectors Aviation

Lawyer faults AON’s lifetime flight ban on passenger over crew assault, cites lack of legal authority 

Caleb Obiowo by Caleb Obiowo
August 12, 2025
in Aviation, Sectors
Ibom Air bans passenger after post-landing attack on crew from Uyo–Lagos flight 
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Linkedin

A Nigerian legal practitioner, Pelumi Olajengbesi Esq., has faulted the Airline Operators of Nigeria’s (AON) decision to impose a lifetime no-fly ban on a passenger accused of assaulting Ibom Air crew members, describing the move as unconstitutional and beyond the group’s legal powers.

In an interview with Nairametrics on Monday, Olajengbesi, the Founder of Law Corridor, said actions like the AON’s lifetime ban risk encouraging a culture where non-regulatory bodies and private associations take the law into their own hands, bypassing due process and undermining constitutional safeguards.

He emphasised that under Nigerian law, only the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) is empowered to issue and enforce nationwide flight restrictions, as provided in Sections 31 and 32 of the Civil Aviation Act, 2022.

“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. 

“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),”  Olajengbesi argued.

Olajengbesi also criticised the reported hasty arraignment and remand of the accused passenger, Ms. Comfort Emmanson, without sufficient opportunity to prepare her defence, saying it violated her constitutional right to a fair hearing.

He stressed that while unruly conduct should be punished under due process, only the NCAA is legally empowered to impose flight restrictions across the industry.

Nigerians react 

The decision by AON has sparked mixed reactions among Nigerians on social media.

Some, like Olayinka (@BelloYinka72), criticised the penalty as excessive.

“This is absurd. Nobody should be banned from flying for the rest of their lives. Accepted, she made a mistake; a life ban is excessive. A six-month or one-year suspension is acceptable,” he wrote on X.

This is absurd. Nobody should be banned from flying for the rest of their lives. Accepted, she made a mistake; a life ban is excessive. A six-month or one-year suspension is acceptable. She should sue the Nigerian airline operators for the absurd ban. https://t.co/snuLLQtiaP

— Olayinka (@BelloYinka72) August 11, 2025

Others, such as Eddy Franklin (@_Eddyfranklin), questioned AON’s legal authority to take such action.

“Correct me if I’m wrong, but the AON has absolutely no power to impose a no-fly ban on any Nigerian. Only the NCAA can. Unless we’re talking about member airlines.” 

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the AON has absolutely no power to impose a No-fly ban on any Nigerian. Only the NCAA can. Unless we're talking about member airlines. https://t.co/nYYrmcR2sc

— Eddy Franklin. (@_Eddyfranklin) August 12, 2025

Some focused on how the incident was handled. Timmy Olaniran (@Timmyolaniran) argued that poor conduct by aviation staff played a role in escalating the situation.

“Nigerian aviation workers remain some of the most unprofessional in the world… Physically restricting that lady from leaving the plane in that manner was crude and bound to escalate the matter into chaos.” 

Nigerian aviation workers remain some of the most unprofessional in the world. If you travel by air regularly within Nigeria, you won't dispute this. Physically restricting that lady from leaving the plane in that manner was crude and bound to escalate the matter into chaos.

— Timilehin Olaniran (@Timmyolaniran) August 11, 2025

Others took a more nuanced stance. E.J. (@Enwagboso) stressed that passengers must follow crew instructions—especially on safety matters—and condemned any physical assault on airline staff. However, he also faulted the professionalism of those who removed the passenger and pointed out inconsistencies in how such incidents are handled in Nigeria.

He noted that:

  1. Switching a phone to airplane mode might seem sufficient, but crew protocols require phones to be completely off. Ignoring this is a safety risk.
  2. No passenger should personally enforce such rules; the crew should handle it.
  3. The way the woman was removed lacked professionalism and dignity.
  4. Assaulting the crew is unacceptable and must be punished.
  5. If high-profile individuals in similar cases were treated leniently, authorities should explain why this case is different.

A passenger must follow the crew's instructions, especially when it comes to safety.

My views in this case:

1. To me, switching a phone to "airplane mode" seems sufficient. However, the crew's protocol is to have phones completely off to avoid any potential interference with…

— E.J. (@Enwagboso) August 11, 2025

Backstory 

Olajengbesi’s remarks follow AON’s announcement earlier on Monday that Emmanson had been banned from flying with any member airline, domestically or internationally, for life.

The group condemned her conduct as one of the most severe cases of unruly passenger behaviour in 2025 and said similar actions would attract the same penalty.

RelatedStories

Court discharges Ms. Comfort Emmason after Ibom Air withdraws case against her 

Court discharges Ms. Comfort Emmason after Ibom Air withdraws case against her 

August 13, 2025
Meet Afam Osigwe,  Nigerian Bar Association’s 32nd President  

NBA condemns Ibom Air over ‘reckless’ treatment of passenger, demands ban withdrawal 

August 12, 2025
  • According to AON, the ban was in response to an incident on Sunday, August 10, 2025, when Emmanson allegedly attacked Ibom Air’s Purser after the aircraft landed at Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, from Uyo.
  • The airline said she had earlier refused to switch off her phone before take-off, and upon arrival, stepped on the Purser, tore off her wig, removed her glasses, and repeatedly slapped her.
  • Ibom Air added that the passenger also assaulted another crew member, attempted to seize a fire extinguisher, and attacked security staff, including the ground supervisor, before being restrained and handed over to the Nigeria Police Force by Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria security officers. The airline permanently banned her from flying on its aircraft.

The management of Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal Two (MMA2) confirmed the incident, stating that Emmanson also assaulted its aviation security personnel and FAAN officers during processing. It warned that violent passengers face immediate detention, prosecution, and possible restriction from airline and airport facilities.

She was later reported to have been charged and remanded at the Kirikiri correctional centre in Lagos on Monday.


Follow us for Breaking News and Market Intelligence.
Tags: Airline Operators of NigeriaIbom AirPelumi Olajengbesi
Caleb Obiowo

Caleb Obiowo

Caleb Obiowo is a graduate of Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Uyo. At Nairametrics, he covers transport and logistics in Nigeria, along with real estate, construction, and aviation. He focuses on delivering clear, easy-to-understand stories and often digs deeper into industry issues through conversations with key players.

Related Posts

Court discharges Ms. Comfort Emmason after Ibom Air withdraws case against her 
Aviation

Court discharges Ms. Comfort Emmason after Ibom Air withdraws case against her 

August 13, 2025
Meet Afam Osigwe,  Nigerian Bar Association’s 32nd President  
Aviation

NBA condemns Ibom Air over ‘reckless’ treatment of passenger, demands ban withdrawal 

August 12, 2025
Ibom Air bans passenger after post-landing attack on crew from Uyo–Lagos flight 
Aviation

Ibom Air bans passenger after post-landing attack on crew from Uyo–Lagos flight 

August 11, 2025
Breaking
Aviation

Airlines don’t have dollars to pay for insurance premiums – Ibom Air COO

August 14, 2023
How Nigerian Government can drive investment in airplane Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul – Capt SamuelCaulcrick
Aviation

Ibom Air: Our MRO facility will save Nigeria $1 billion

July 24, 2023
NSIB, NCAA Begin Investigation Into Max Air Aircraft Incident, Bemoan Sensationalism
Aviation

NSIB, NCAA begin investigation into Max Air aircraft incident, decry media sensationalism

May 8, 2023
Next Post
Developing countries may likely bear the brunt of OPEC’s oil production cuts – IEA

Crude oil comeback: Seplat, Oando, Aradel record massive crude output jump in H1 2025 

Comments 1

  1. 9jaRealist says:
    August 12, 2025 at 9:06 pm

    1) Agreed that AON has no authority to impose the lifetime (or any) ban, but the airline certainly does – and that’s the case with carriers globally.

    2) There’s nothing wrong with ‘restraining’ or even ‘detaining’ an unruly passenger until the authorities or security arrive. In the US, we’ve even seen unruly passengers bound with tape or other restraints!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

otd
access bank
nairametrics
Emple
Palmpay
first bank








DUNS

Recent News

  • Kerosene, LPG, CNG exempt from 5% fuel surcharge – Presidential Tax Committee 
  • Nigeria confirms no Ebola cases, issues advisory as outbreak in DR Congo claims 15 lives 
  • OPEC+ moves to boost oil output by additional 137,000bpd in October 2025 – Report 

Follow us on social media:

Recent News

Nigerians are now paying twice the cost of Kerosene within a year

Kerosene, LPG, CNG exempt from 5% fuel surcharge – Presidential Tax Committee 

September 7, 2025
Authorities move to contain next virus outbreak deadlier than Covid-19

Nigeria confirms no Ebola cases, issues advisory as outbreak in DR Congo claims 15 lives 

September 7, 2025
  • iOS App
  • Android App
  • Contact Us
  • Home
  • Markets
  • Sectors
  • Economy
  • Business News
  • Financial Literacy
  • Disclaimer
  • Ads Disclaimer
  • Copyright Infringement

© 2025 Nairametrics

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
Social Media Auto Publish Powered By : XYZScripts.com
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Exclusives
    • Financial Analysis
    • Corporate Stories
    • Interviews
    • Investigations
    • Metrics
    • Economy
    • Nairalytics
  • Markets
    • Currencies
    • Cryptos
    • Commodities
    • Equities
      • Company Results
      • Dividends
      • Stock Market
    • Fixed Income
    • Market Views
    • Securities
  • Sectors
    • Agriculture
    • Aviation
    • Company News
    • Consumer Goods
    • Corporate Updates
    • Corporate deals
    • Corporate Press Releases
    • Energy
    • Entertainment
    • Financial Services
    • Health
    • Hospitality & Travel
    • Manufacturing
    • Real Estate and Construction
    • Renewables & Sustainability
    • Tech News
  • Business News
    • Budget
    • Public Debt
    • Funds Management
    • Tax
  • Financial Literacy
    • Career tips
    • Personal Finance
  • Lifestyle
    • Billionaire Watch
    • Profiles
  • Opinions
    • Blurb
    • Op-Eds
    • Research Analysis
  • Recapitalization
    • Access Holdings Offer
    • Fidelity Bank Offer
    • GTCO Offer
    • Zenith Bank Offer
  • Login
  • Sign Up

© 2025 Nairametrics