Editorial
Beyond Adeosun’s Resignation
When on July 7, 2018, the Social Economic Right and Accountability Project (SERAP) and other well-meaning individuals and groups in Nigeria broke the news that the immediate past Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun was parading a fake and forged NYSC Exemption Certificate dated September 7, 2009, most Nigerians, especially the members and leadership of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) merely dismissed the issue with a wave of the hand.
Until the erstwhile embattled Minister, a key cabinet member of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration resigned a forthnight ago, after 69 days of studied silence by the former minister and her aides, the issue of her participation in the one year mandatory national service after graduation was shrouded in secrecy. The Presidency strived hard to down play the criminal offence punishable under NYSC Act, Section 13.
While the controversy, now popularly known as AdeosunGate raged on, Frank Tietie, the Executive Director, Citizens Advocacy for Social and Economic Rights (CASER), Francis Obahim, a constitutional lawyer and Action Peoples Party (APP) filed separate legal suits demanding the sack and prosecution of the former Minister. The issue occupied the front burner of national discourse when it was first raised by Premium Times and SERAP.
Indeed, the media was awash with reports of the scandal, thereby putting the ex-Minister under intense pressure prior to her resignation and miraculous escape from Nigeria’s shores a forthnight ago.
The Tide sees the entire AdeosunGate episode as very unfortunate, embarrassing and a national shame, particularly against the backdrop of the anti-corruption posture of the Buhari administration. That a top official of this administration is caught in the web of corrupt practices is unbelievable and to a great extent rubbishes its anti-ccorruption crusade.
We had on several occasions in our editorials described the war against corruption under the current dispensation as a mere fluke, specifically designed and targeted at perceived political opponents, real or imagined.
The fact that the Presidency did not arrest and prosecute Adeosun buttresses the point and lends credence to our earlier position. Better put, the Buhari administration’s anti-corruption campaign is vindictive, vengeful and selective in all ramifications.
It is infact, ironic that Adeosun served as a Commissioner and member of the Ogun State Executive Council and later as Finance Minister for three years under Buhari, since she returned from the United Kingdom in 2002, and passed through several security and legislative screenings, without being detected to have committed forgery. This, indeed, portrays Nigeria as a country where anything goes undetected.
We, therefore, make bold to say that if the Buhari administration should be taken seriously on its anti-corruption war, the former Minister must be extradited, prosecuted and brought to justice for forgery and conspiracy offences in accordance with the laws of the land.
Moreso, Adeosun ought to have been suspended and kept on close watch while investigations are ongoing. That she was let off the hook and allowed to escape to the United Kingdom smacks of the highest level of conspiracy by the powers-that-be.
The former Minister must face the law and be subjected to thorough investigation as well as be compelled to name all her accomplices in the AdeosunGate if the APC-led Federal Government must come clean of this shameful scandal.
The soft landing given to her by the Federal Government, by allowing her flee the country is unacceptable and it is a way and means of shielding her from prosecution. Until Adeosun is arrested and prosecuted, her likes in public offices will think that they can eat their cake and have it at the same time.
The integrity of the Presidency and the ruling APC-Federal Government is under scrutiny and anything short of her extradition will be unacceptable to Nigerians. The increasing dearth of integrity in high places in Nigeria must stop now.
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Editorial
Addressing Unruly Behaviours At The Airports

It began as a seemingly minor in- flight disagreement. Comfort Emmason, a passenger on an Ibom Air flight from Uyo to Lagos, reportedly failed to switch off her mobile phone when instructed by the cabin crew. What should have been a routine enforcement of safety regulations spiralled into a physical confrontation, sparking a national debate on the limits of airline authority and the rights of passengers.
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) wasted no time in condemning the treatment meted out to Emmason. In a strongly worded statement, the body described the incident as “a flagrant violation of her fundamental human rights” and called for a thorough investigation into the conduct of the airline staff. The NBA stressed that while passengers must adhere to safety rules, such compliance should never be extracted through intimidation, violence, or humiliation.
Following the altercation, Emmason found herself arraigned before a Magistrate’s Court and remanded at Kirikiri Maximum Security Prison, a location more commonly associated with hardened criminals than with errant passengers. In a surprising turn of events, the Federal Government later dropped all charges against her, citing “overriding public interest” and concerns about due process.
Compounding her woes, Ibom Air initially imposed a lifetime ban preventing her from boarding its aircraft. That ban has now been lifted, following mounting public pressure and calls from rights groups for a more measured approach. The reversal has been welcomed by many as a step towards restoring fairness and proportionality in handling such disputes.
While her refusal to comply with crew instructions was undeniably inappropriate, questions linger about whether the punishment fit the offence. Was the swift escalation from verbal reminder to physical ejection a proportionate response, or an abuse of authority? The incident has reignited debate over how airlines balance safety enforcement with respect for passenger rights.
The Tide unequivocally condemns the brutal and degrading treatment the young Nigerian woman received from the airline’s staff. No regulation, however vital, justifies the use of physical force or the public shaming of a passenger. Such behaviour is antithetical to the principles of customer service, human dignity, and the rule of law.
Emmason’s own defiance warrants reproach. Cabin crew instructions, especially during boarding or take-off preparations, are not mere suggestions; they are safety mandates. Reports suggest she may have been unable to comply because of a malfunctioning power button on her device, but even so, she could have communicated this clearly to the crew. Rules exist to safeguard everyone on board, and passengers must treat them with due seriousness.
Nigerians, whether flying domestically or abroad, would do well to internalise the importance of orderliness in public spaces. Adherence to instructions, patience in queues, and courteous engagement with officials are hallmarks of civilised society. Disregard for these norms not only undermines safety but also projects a damaging image of the nation to the wider world.
The Emmason affair is not an isolated case. Former Edo State Governor and current Senator, Adams Oshiomhole, once found himself grounded after arriving late for an Air Peace flight. Witnesses alleged that he assaulted airline staff and ordered the closure of the terminal’s main entrance. This is hardly the conduct expected of a statesman.
More recently, a Nollywood-worthy episode unfolded at Abuja’s Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, involving Fuji icon “King”, Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, popularly known as KWAM1. In a viral video, he was seen exchanging heated words with officials after being prevented from boarding an aircraft.
Events took a dangerous turn when the aircraft, moving at near take-off speed, nearly clipped the 68-year-old musician’s head with its wing. Such an occurrence points to a serious breach of airport safety protocols, raising uncomfortable questions about operational discipline at Nigeria’s gateways.
According to accounts circulating online, Wasiu had attempted to board an aircraft while he was carrying an alcoholic drink and refused to relinquish it when challenged. His refusal led to de-boarding, after which the Aviation Minister, Festus Keyamo, imposed a six-month “no-fly” ban, citing “unacceptable” conduct.
It is deeply concerning that individuals of such prominence, including Emmason’s pilot adversary, whose careers have exposed them to some of the most disciplined aviation environments in the world, should exhibit conduct that diminishes the nation’s reputation. True leadership, whether in politics, culture, or professional life, calls for restraint and decorum, all the more when exercised under public scrutiny.
Most egregiously, in Emmason’s case, reports that she was forcibly stripped in public and filmed for online circulation are deeply disturbing. This was an act of humiliation and a gross invasion of privacy, violating her right to dignity and falling short of the standards expected in modern aviation. No person, regardless of the circumstances, should be subjected to such degrading treatment.
Ibom Air must ensure its staff are trained to treat passengers with proper decorum at all times. If Emmason had broken the law, security personnel could have been called in to handle the matter lawfully. Instead, her ordeal turned into a public spectacle. Those responsible for assaulting her should face prosecution, and the airline should be compelled to compensate her. Emmason, for her part, should pursue legal redress to reinforce the principle that justice and civility must prevail in Nigeria’s skies.
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