2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has decried the double standards in the handling of the case involving Miss Comfort Emmanson, who allegedly assaulted an Ibom Air hostess.

In a video that is now going viral on the internet, Emmanson was seen exchanging words with the Air hostess and would later land a slap on her cheek.

However, it is not known what exactly led to the reaction or altercation.

Meanwhile, in a comment under the video, a man who claims to have been on the same plane alleged that Emmanson was not treated right after she told the hostess that her phone was on flight mode when it was requested that they all turned their mobile phones off.

Reacting to the incident in a statement via his X handle, Obi apologized to the airline crew while criticizing the dehumanizing treatment of Emmanson, who was stripped naked during the altercation before being taken to court and remanded.

He said it was unacceptable that Emmanson was swiftly prosecuted, while another offender who disrupted a flight and endangered passengers’ lives had not been arrested or arraigned untill date questioning the equality rule in Nigeria.

He called for fair judgement in Nigeria stating that it should not depend on wealth, influence or access to government officials.

He wrote: “The unfortunate and dishonourable drama witnessed in Ibom Air has again brought to the fore the double standards in our lives and the inadequacies of our various security operatives in acting decently and in a civilized manner.

“I want to start by sincerely apologising to the Ibom Air crew who were assaulted by Miss Comfort Emmanson. We must, as a society, learn and uphold good conduct, as it is a true measure of success and decent living.

“However, I must equally strongly condemn the dehumanising treatment meted out to this young woman. Stripping her publicly was not only unnecessary but also represents the height of rascality and abuse by our agencies. It is unacceptable that she was hurriedly taken to court and remanded, while someone who visibly held a plane from taking off and put hundreds of lives at risk is still at large, with government agencies and some state officials speaking up for him to be forgiven.

“This case is not just about one young woman, it is about the double standards that poison our justice system. Justice in Nigeria must never be about who is poor or powerless versus who has influence or access to government officials.

“While Ms. Comfort Emmanson is in jail, the other offender who committed a more severe offence has not been held to the same standard. He has neither been arrested nor arraigned in any court.

“We must build a country where justice is fair, equal, and not selective, especially against women who are seen to be weaker. This young lady’s offence does not compare to the crimes committed daily by those parading themselves as “excellencies” while looting public funds without consequence, and yet they have not been stripped or dehumanised in the name of justice.

“We must end this selective treatment of the poor or less privileged. If justice must be served, it should be served to all, and it must be served fairly. The Minister of Aviation and other relevant authorities owe the public an explanation for these double standards in their adjudication.

“Justice must be just, or it is nothing at all.

“The rule of law based on justice for all must remain the guidepost of our democracy.”

The “other offender” was Nigerian musician King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, popularly known as K1 De Ultimate, who had exhibited similar behaviour at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on Tuesday.

At the airport, Kwam 1 was not allowed to board a ValueJet flight after he allegedly violated aviation security regulations.

However, Kwam 1 has not been arrested or prosecuted by Nigerian authorities which citizens and Peter Obi have condemned starting that there is no fairness in the judgement.