Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, has disclosed the reason the Federal Government pardoned Ibom Air passenger, Comfort Emmanson.
In a statement on Wednesday, Falana said the decision followed the government’s unwillingness to prosecute Fuji star, Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, popularly known as K1, for alleged misconduct at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
He stated that by failing to charge K1 with the appropriate criminal offences, the government had undermined its moral authority to prosecute other unruly passengers at airports.
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“The Federal Government will henceforth be accused of discriminatory treatment if it prosecutes any unruly passenger, given that K1 was ‘pardoned’ without trial,” Falana said.
He criticised the swift acceptance of K1’s apology, noting that the pardon came before police investigations were concluded.
Falana argued that all citizens are entitled to equal rights, obligations, and opportunities under the law, and that selective enforcement erodes public trust in the justice system.
“Since citizens have equal rights, obligations, and opportunities before the law, the Federal Government will be accused of discrimination when it treats similar offences differently,” he reiterated.
Comfort Emmanson had been accused of misconduct during an Ibom Air flight but was cleared after the government withdrew its case.
Falana maintained that the precedent set by pardoning K1 meant prosecuting Emmanson would have amounted to double standards.
The Senior Advocate called on authorities to apply the law uniformly to preserve fairness and accountability in the justice system.
