Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, has shed light on the Federal Government’s decision to drop charges against Comfort Emmanson, the Ibom Air passenger previously declared unruly and banned by the airline.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Falana claimed the government withdrew the case to avoid accusations of double standards, following its earlier handling of a similar incident involving renowned Fuji musician, Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, popularly known as KWAM 1.
According to Falana, the government’s failure to prosecute KWAM 1, who was accused of misconduct at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, undermines its position to fairly enforce penalties against other citizens for similar offences.
“The Federal Government has lost the moral right to prosecute any unruly passenger after hastily pardoning KWAM 1 without a proper investigation or trial,” Falana said.
He criticized the authorities for accepting KWAM 1’s apology without completing a police probe, describing the move as legally and ethically flawed.
“Since citizens have equal rights, obligations, and opportunities before the law, the Federal Government will henceforth be accused of subjecting any unruly passenger to discriminatory treatment on the ground that KWAM 1 was ‘pardoned’ without any criminal trial whatsoever,” Falana added.
The activist warned that continued selective application of justice could erode public confidence in the rule of law and further entrench impunity.
Source; PM News
