By ENITAN ABEL JOHNGOLD ORHERUATA, mnipr
The National Association of Seadogs (NAS), Pyrates Confraternity, has urged aviation authorities to end what it describes as “double standards” in the handling of airport-related infringements.
In a statement, the group clarified that it does not condone the actions of Miss Comfort Emmanson, who was recently involved in a violent altercation with officials of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN). NAS maintained that Miss Emmanson should face prosecution for resisting lawful authority.
However, the group questioned why other high-profile individuals accused of similar or related infractions were treated differently. Citing recent examples, NAS pointed to popular musician King Wasiu Ayinde Marshall (Kwam 1), who was involved in a dispute at an airport but was neither arrested nor arraigned in court. They also referenced Senator Adams Oshiomhole, who reportedly blocked the entrance to a departure hall for several minutes in protest over alleged late arrivals being denied boarding—yet faced no prosecution.
“The offences in these cases are not different in the eyes of aviation regulations,” the group stated. “If one person is arrested and charged immediately, the same should apply to others, regardless of their social status or political influence.”
NAS further recalled an incident on April 1, 2023, when a youth disrupted a Lagos-bound flight in Abuja, shouting political slogans and urging fellow passengers to join him, without attracting the same level of punitive action.
On the ValueJet incident involving Kwam 1, the group argued that contrary to claims, “he never put hundreds of lives at risk.” Instead, NAS noted that the flight’s safety may have been compromised when the aircraft took off while there were persons on the runwa an action they say was contrary to aviation safety rules.
The statement concluded with a call on aviation regulators to apply rules consistently:
“Our message is simple stop the double standards. All airport infractions must be treated equally under the law, no matter who is involved.”