WABMA Seeks Broad-based Reforms Over K1, Emmanson Incidents

The West Africa Broadcast Media Academy (WABMA) has called for broad-based reforms in justice and gender-based issues following the airport incidents involving Wasiu Ayinde Marshall (KWAM1) and Ms Comfort Emmanson.

WABMA stated this while decrying the double standards in handling the airport incidents involving K1 and Emmanson.

The regional media academy, in a statement yesterday, said it is deeply concerned about two recent incidents in Nigeria’s aviation sector, which revealed a disturbing pattern: sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) can occur not only through individual acts, but also through unequal and gendered application of laws and procedures.

While noting that it does not make any assumption about guilt or innocence, WABMA condemned the disproportionate, punitive treatment meted out to Emmanson compared with the conciliatory response given to a politically connected male offender.

It added that both cases arose in the same sector under the same Constitution. Yet, the male offender, whose conduct included obstructing a commercial aircraft, is being considered for an ambassadorial role by the Aviation Minister.

“When power and status dictate who is protected and who is punished, the result is not enforcement — it is violence by procedure,” executive director of WABMA Media Foundation, Dr. Ken Ike Okere, said.

While stressing that “Nigeria’s institutions must embody justice, not merely perform it,” the executive director of WABMA noted that the official handling of these cases amounts to institutional and societal SGBV, inflicting humiliation, stripping dignity, and causing psychological harm — particularly to women — while reinforcing public distrust and normalising impunity.

He said the incidents reflect the norms that WABMA’s Amplifying the Voices of Leaders of Faith and Culture project, supported by the Ford Foundation, seeks to change.

While progress is being made, these cases show that urgent action is still needed, especially among policymakers and influencers.

WABMA, however, called for proportional redress, which entailed withdrawing the ambassadorial designation for KWAM1 and imposing community service as a corrective measure.

It also called for an investigation into the allegations that he splashed liquid on a female pilot and cabin crew — another alleged act of gender violence.

WABMA also demands gender-sensitive, trauma-informed protocols which will adopt standard operating procedures that prohibit degrading treatment during arrests or removals, except where strictly necessary for safety, and only under documented protocols.

The regional media academy also called for equal enforcement and transparent accountability, which would apply identical standards to all offenders, regardless of status.

It also asked for the Commissioning of an independent NGO-led review of both cases, the publication of its findings, and the outline of corrective measures for the agencies involved.

It also demanded training and institutional reform, including gender, SGBV, and human rights modules in mandatory training for aviation security, airline staff, police, and regulators.

It will also implement incident documentation and body-worn camera policies and establish a rapid-response oversight desk with civil society representation to review dignity-rights complaints within 72 hours.

WABMA also asked for a data, monitoring and public communication system that standardized incident recording with sex-disaggregated data, use-of-force levels, and outcomes.

The system will also publish quarterly enforcement dashboards and encourage responsible media coverage and public restraint on social media to avoid re-victimisation.

“The WABMA Media Foundation stands with all Nigerians demanding equal justice, humane procedures, and institutions worthy of public trust. We call on regulators, airlines, security agencies, and the judiciary to remedy harm already done and to prevent future abuses,” the statement added.