When justice bends for gender or status, it ceases to be justice – and the Ibom Air controversy serves as a reminder of that truth.
Justice, at its core, must be blind to gender, status, or influence. When similar offences receive drastically different consequences based on whether the accused is male or female, it erodes public trust and fuels perceptions of bias. The current Ibom Air controversy centres on an assaulted female passenger, who is facing prosecution plus a lifetime flight ban. In contrast, a male celebrity, K1 De Ultimate, only got a six-month ban for a similar offence.
This isn’t just about two isolated incidents. It’s about equality before the law and the perception that the scales of justice tip depending on who is standing before them.
The incident: A tale of two standards
A recent incident involving King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal (K1 De Ultimate), where the Fuji music legend reportedly assaulted an airline staff member. Despite his uncouth actions, the case ended with him receiving a ban of just six months. No prosecution.
K1 De Ultimate -Valuejet
You all should watch these 2 videos with close attention
Frame 1: You can see there are a lot of ground handling operators and aircraft security on ground with K1, definitely talking to him and begging him .
Note all passengers have boarded and the… pic.twitter.com/Sgy90guBGK
— Hon.Ab Faj (FlyingAeroBoy) (@AbeebFajobi) August 7, 2025
In contrast, a woman who was involved in a physical altercation with crew members on an Ibom Air flight was immediately punished. According to reports, she allegedly assaulted airline staff, resulting in her forceful and aggressive removal from the aircraft. She was subsequently arrested by airport security and handed over to the police. She has since been charged in court and remanded at Kirikiri Correctional Centre.
The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) also placed her on a lifetime no-fly list, for both domestic and international flights, citing the violent nature of the attack. However, constitutionally, the only statutory body empowered to issue and enforce nationwide flight restrictions is the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCCA). This is clearly stated in sections 31 and 32 of the Civil Aviation Act, 2022.
Former Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, was also recently linked to an airline-related incident, but faced no charges, detention, or public and permanent sanctions, unlike the Ibom Air case.
The disparity between these outcomes raises pressing questions: why was the woman’s punishment permanent and severe while the men received only temporary sanctions?
Is justice being applied consistently, or are gender and public profile influencing decisions?
Read also: Are male celebrities immune to gender-based violence convictions?
A deeper violation: recording and posting private footage
In an even more troubling turn, someone leaked video footage of the female passenger during the altercation online. The clip reportedly captured airport staff manhandling and assaulting the passenger, tearing her shirt and exposing her breasts in the struggle. Under Nigerian law, non-consensual recording and public distribution of intimate images is a criminal offence.
This act compounds the injustice, turning an already difficult legal situation into a case of secondary victimisation. The focus should be on the facts of the altercation, not exploiting a woman’s vulnerability for public consumption.
The Ibom Air Hostess who deliberately pulls Comfort Emmanson’s cloth until it exposes her needs to be fully prosecuted. pic.twitter.com/c8cqyBJNPX
— Millionaire BusinessMan 🇨🇦 (@tboss_guy) August 11, 2025
Why gender equality in justice matters
When the law treats people differently based on gender and status, it undermines not only the justice system but also societal trust. Equal treatment in disciplinary and legal matters is not just a human right; it’s the bedrock of a fair society.
If an airline’s policy is to issue lifetime bans for assaulting staff, then every offender, regardless of gender, celebrity status, or social standing, should face the same consequences. Conversely, if temporary bans are acceptable resolutions, then they should be offered equally.
Ultimately, accountability must be uniform. This means Ibom Air, the aviation authorities, and the legal system should review both incidents under the same lens. The authorities must also pursue legal actions against those responsible for leaking the explicit footage — a violation that should not be brushed aside.
One standard, not two
Justice should be gender-blind, status-blind, and bias-free. The Ibom Air saga is more than a viral controversy; it’s a reminder that true fairness means consistency. When similar offences lead to unequal punishments, society must speak up. When justice starts weighing gender in its decisions, it stops being justice at all; it becomes a vendetta.
New developments but lingering double standards
In a surprising turn, the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, has announced the withdrawal of the criminal complaint against the female passenger. Ms. Comfort Emmanson, who remains in Kirikiri Prisons, is now set for release this week after the police complete the necessary steps. The lifetime flying ban imposed by the Airline Operators of Nigeria has also been lifted.
However, the same press briefing revealed an even more lenient outcome for Wasiu Ayinde Marshal (K1 De Ultimate). His original 6-month ban has been cut to just one month, and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) will “work with the music star with a view to engaging him as an ambassador for proper airport security protocol going forward.” Criminal complaints against him will also be withdrawn.
Even within the seemingly fair response to the matter, there’s a stark contrast in the difference of treatment: Comfort spent days in prison and faced a lifetime ban before public pressure prompted intervention, while K1’s penalty was reduced, coupled with the reward of an ambassadorial role.
Comfort Emmanson released from custody
Ms. Comfort Emmanson, the female passenger at the centre of the Ibom Air controversy, has been released m from Kirikiri Prisons following the withdrawal of the criminal complaint against her. Her lifetime flying ban has also been lifted by the Airline Operators of Nigeria as promised.
This article was updated on 13 August 2025.
