A human rights activist and author, Comrade Paul Ikechukwu Njoku, has accused the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, of gaslighting and manipulating Ms. Comfort Emmanson, the Ibom Air passenger who was captured in a physical assault with an Ibom Air hostess during the alighted flight enrout Akwa-Ibom to Lagos State.
Njoku added that the lady’s fundamental rights to dignity and human person as enshrined in the constitution was grossly violated.
He said this in a statement made available to Diaspora Digital Media.
The statement reads: “The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has once again demonstrated zero sense of protecting the fundamental human rights to dignity and human person of Ms. Comfort Emmanson as guaranteed in the Nigeria constitution.
“Base on the uncomplimentary narratives of the Honourable Minister, justice has been denied in this matter.
“It is a gory feast of absurdity, dehumanization and gross malfeasance that Mr. Keyamo has adopted an infantile insensitivity, manipulation and a gaslighting approach to the injustice and open dehumanization meted on Ms. Comfort Emmanson by the Ibom Airline Hostess and Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON).
“This is unacceptable. I therefore urge the aviation minister to stop his gross manipulation and gaslighting theatrics and give justice to Ms. Comfort Emmanson forthwith”.
This medium reported that Emmanson was sent to kirikiri prison in Lagos State after she was involved in an incident with an Ibom Air hostess on a trip from Akwa-Ibom to Lagos where she was stripped naked upon arrival at the airport in a viral video circulating on the social media.
She was later released on Wednesday by the order of the Aviation Minister, Festus Keyamo.
Keyamo in a statement revealed that airline operators are considering appointing the embattled Ibom Air passenger as an ambassador for good passenger conduct.
In a statement via his verified X handle on Wednesday, he said the role being considered for Emmanson, and for Fuji star Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, also known as KWAM 1 in a separate case, would be voluntary and without financial benefits.
It was reported that Kwam 1 was also involved in a similar incident in Abuja last week.
He was not sent to the kirikiri prison but was suspended with a six months ban to fly locally and internationally while Comfort Emmanson was not only swiftly sent to kirikiri prison but was banned to fly for life.
Following the release of Miss Emmanson, Kwam 1 was appointed the airline ambassador and Keyamo revealed that Miss Emmanson is being considered for similar role also.
However, he emphasized that such ambassadorial roles are not official positions and have been given to repentant individuals by past Nigerian governments.
He wrote: “Whilst the Aviation agencies are considering using KWAM 1 for such a role, in my discussion last night with the Airline Operators of Nigeria, they are also looking at the option of using Ms. Comfort Emmanson, who has also shown remorse, as their own Ambassador for good passenger conduct.
“It is left for the AON to work out those details since she has been actually released from prison custody today based on my earlier statement. Whilst the usual suspects can continue to question our decisions on this issue, we firmly believe we have been fair to all.
“It is common practice all over the world that a repentant offender is made to preach publicly against the exact conduct from which he has repented. It is akin to Community Service.
“It is not paid for and it is voluntary service. Unfortunately, in Nigeria, some would assume that once you hear the word ‘Ambassador’ it is a big position that comes with the perquisites of office. No, it is not. It is for free.”