Former presidential candidate Peter Obi has publicly condemned a recent “authoritarian decision” to impose a lifetime ban on Comfort Emmanson, who allegedly assaulted Ibom Air staff and security.
She was alleged to have committed the offence during a Uyo–Lagos flight on Sunday. She was subsequently arraigned and remanded in Kirikiri correctional facility in Lagos.
The former Anambra State governor who previously condemned her remand, cited a lack of due process and consistency in the application of justice in a statement posted on his X page on Tuesday.
Obi described the ban as “systemically wrong and unjust,” questioning whether due process was followed and if all avenues for a compassionate resolution had been exhausted.
The 64-year-old drew a stark comparison, calling it a “tragic irony” that a young woman in her twenties could be banned for life while those in positions of authority “commit worse crimes against humanity” and are celebrated.
He further criticised the swiftness with which the authorities acted in Emmanson’s case, contrasting it with the lack of urgency shown when dealing with “influential and politically connected” individuals who commit “far greater offenses.”
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The former governor argued that if the young woman, who he acknowledged “indeed acted wrongly,” now seeks to apologize, her plea might go unheard in a society where the suffering of the poor is often overlooked.
He stressed that justice must be consistent to avoid becoming “oppression in disguise,” and that it should be applied equally to all citizens.
Obi called for change, urging for a system that includes compassion, rehabilitation, and understanding, especially when misconduct is a result of frustration or “displaced aggression.”
He emphasised that power should never be the determining factor in who is punished or pardoned.
