N500bn lawsuit: Count me out, Ibom Air passenger, Comfort Emmanson tells Nigerians

Comfort Emmanson, the passenger at the centre of Ibom Air row has distanced herself from the N500 billion lawsuit slammed against the federal government, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), and other parties.

Emmanson, who has been in the spotlight since the August 10 altercation on board an Ibom Air flight from Abuja to Lagos, issued a statement via her Instagram page on Saturday, making it clear that the lawsuit did not originate from her.

She wrote, “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 denial comes amid controversy trailing the viral incident where Emmanson was accused of refusing to switch off her phone before takeoff and allegedly assaulting a female flight attendant.

Viral clips from the scuffle showed her being forcefully dragged off the aircraft by security operatives, during which her breast was exposed.

In the wake of the uproar, the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) announced a lifetime ban on Emmanson across all Nigerian airlines.

The decision, however, was later rescinded following public outrage and pressure from civil society groups.

Contrary to the reports linking Emmanson to the multi-billion-naira lawsuit, court documents showed that the legal action was actually initiated by public interest lawyer, Ayodele Ademiluyi.

The case, “Ayodele Ademiluyi v. President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria & Ors (FHC/L/CS/1632/25),” filed at the Federal High Court in Lagos, lists the Federal Government, NCAA, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Ibom Air, ValueJet, and fuji legend King Wasiu Ayinde, popularly known as K1 De Ultimate, among the defendants.

Ademiluyi, in his suit, argued that Emmanson’s treatment exposed double standards in the aviation sector, especially when compared with the handling of K1’s airport drama.