Ibom Air passenger Comfort Emmanson has denied reports that she filed a N500 billion lawsuit against the Federal Government, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and others.
Emmanson made the clarification in a statement posted on her Instagram Story on Saturday.
She said, “My attention has been drawn to a fake report claiming that I have filed a N500 billion lawsuit against the Federal Government, NCAA, and others. This information is false and misleading. I have not taken any such legal action yet.
“When I eventually do anything of such nature (which is imminent) I will personally update the public myself via my official page.
“For the avoidance of doubt my lawyer is Adam Atakpa of Kipparise Attorneys. I urge everyone to disregard this fake news and avoid being misled.”
The reports of a lawsuit followed the August 10 incident on an Ibom Air flight from Abuja to Lagos. Emmanson was accused of refusing to switch off her phone before takeoff and allegedly assaulting a female flight attendant who tried to enforce the rules.
Videos of the scuffle quickly went viral online, showing security officers forcibly dragging Emmanson off the aircraft. In the struggle, her breast became exposed, sparking a heated debate on social media about passenger rights, airline rules and the humiliation she suffered.
The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) subsequently announced a lifetime ban on her across all Nigerian airlines. However, following public backlash and interventions from civil society groups, the ban was lifted a few days later.
Days later, public interest lawyer Ayodele Ademiluyi, not Emmanson, filed a N500 billion suit before the Federal High Court in Lagos.
The case, “Ayodele Ademiluyi v. President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria & Ors (FHC/L/CS/1632/25),” names the Federal Government, NCAA, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Ibom Air, ValueJet and fuji singer King Wasiu Ayinde, popularly known as K1 De Ultimate, among others as defendants.
Ademiluyi argued that the treatment meted out to Emmanson compared to K1, who was also accused of causing a scene at the airport, showed double standards in the aviation sector.
Meanwhile, an investigation by the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ) reported that Ibom Air itself did not want the matter taken to court, preferring to avoid litigation and further negative publicity.
