Former Anambra State governor and 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has criticised what he described as systemic injustice in Nigeria’s judicial process, insisting that the poor must not be punished while the powerful escape accountability.
Obi, in a post on his official X handle on Tuesday, condemned the life ban imposed on Ms. Comfort Emmanson by Ibom Air after she reportedly assaulted members of the airline’s crew. He also apologised to the airline and its staff for the passenger’s conduct but questioned the speed and severity of the punishment.
According to Obi, the decision reflected the truth in the ancient Greek philosopher Anacharsis’ words that “the law is like a spider’s web: it catches the weak, while the powerful break through with ease.”
“There is everything systemically wrong and unjust about this authoritarian decision. What due process was followed overnight leading to this sanction? Have we exhausted the avenues of justice and compassionate resolution on this matter?” he asked.
He described it as a “tragic irony” that a young woman in her twenties could be banned for life, while politicians and other influential figures who commit “far greater offences” against the nation move about freely without consequences.
Obi stressed that justice must be applied equally to all citizens and urged authorities to leave room for compassion, rehabilitation, and understanding — especially when misconduct may be linked to frustration or misplaced aggression.
“The authorities acted with lightning speed in Ms. Emmanson’s case, but the same urgency is absent when dealing with the politically connected. Justice must be consistent, or it becomes oppression in disguise,” he wrote.
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