Comfort Emmanson’s Lawyer Says She’s Resting After Ibom Air Altercation, Yet To Decide On Legal Action

Comfort Emmanson, the Ibom Air passenger recently released from Kirikiri Correctional Centre in Lagos, has yet to decide whether to take legal action against the airline following a tense altercation with its crew.

Her lawyer, Adefunke Maria, spoke on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Thursday, condemning the treatment Emmanson received from a flight attendant who allegedly blocked her from disembarking after a flight from Akwa Ibom to Lagos last Sunday.

“Whether Comfort will let the matter go or pursue civil charges for compensation, she will inform us in due course. She is a full-grown adult, and we cannot decide for her. For now, she just needs to rest and put herself together,” Maria said.

The incident, which was captured on viral videos, showed Emmanson and the flight attendant in a physical altercation while security officials tried to intervene. Public opinion has been divided, with some criticising her reaction, while others condemned the flight attendant for preventing her from leaving the aircraft. Outrage also grew over the alleged indecent exposure Emmanson suffered during the confrontation with ground staff at Lagos airport.

Maria further accused the airline’s staff of filming the incident and leaking the footage online, describing the act as unacceptable.

Emmanson was arrested at the airport, arraigned in court, and remanded in prison on the same day, sparking accusations of selective justice. Critics compared her case to that of Fuji musician Wasiu Ayinde, known as Kwam 1, who on August 5, 2025, attempted to block a moving ValueJet aircraft in Abuja but was not prosecuted.

On August 13, 2025, Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo ordered all charges against Emmanson dropped, leading to her release. He also directed airline operators to lift the lifetime flying ban imposed on her.

Despite regaining her freedom, social media continues to urge Emmanson to seek legal redress. According to her lawyer, she is currently taking time to rest and “put herself together” before deciding her next course of action.