Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has fiercely criticised the lifetime no-fly ban imposed on a young Ibom Air passenger, Ms. Comfort Emmanson, describing it as a painful reminder of Nigeria’s skewed justice system — one that often punishes the weak while shielding the powerful.

In a widely shared post on X (formerly Twitter), Obi quoted the ancient Greek philosopher Anacharsis: “The law is like a spider’s web: it catches the weak, while the powerful break through with ease.”

Swift Sanction, Slower Justice

The controversy erupted following an altercation involving Emmanson aboard an Ibom Air flight. Shortly after, the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) announced a lifetime ban against her, citing alleged assault and disruptive conduct.

However, Obi questioned the speed and severity of the punishment, asking: “What due process was followed overnight leading to this sanction?”

He warned that such reactions reveal a systemic imbalance — one where the poor face rapid justice, while the well-connected avoid accountability.

“The authorities acted with lightning speed in Ms. Emmanson’s case, but the same urgency is absent when dealing with the influential and politically connected,” Obi wrote.

Empathy, Not Expediency

Although Obi condemned the passenger’s behaviour and previously apologised to Ibom Air, he expressed concern that justice must be restorative, not merely punitive.

“If this young woman, who indeed acted wrongly, now seeks to apologise, who will hear her cry in a country where the pain of the poor is invisible?” he asked.

Obi urged the justice system to consider factors like frustration, mental health, and economic hardship when responding to incidents involving ordinary citizens.

Public Reaction

His remarks sparked nationwide debate, with many Nigerians on social media echoing his call for fairness and transparency.

“This is the Nigeria we know—swift to crush the weak but blind to the crimes of the elite,” one user wrote on X.

Others questioned the legal grounds and process behind the lifetime ban, calling it disproportionate and opaque.

No Path for Appeal?

As of now, Emmanson’s fate remains uncertain. No formal appeal process has been announced, and Ibom Air has not issued any public clarification beyond the initial sanction.

Obi concluded his post with a clear message: “Power must never determine who is punished and who is pardoned.”