A human rights and public interest lawyer, Ayodele Ademiluyi, has filed a ₦500 billion lawsuit against the Federal Government, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Ibom Air, ValueJet, and several others over what he described as a “blatant breach of the rule of law” in handling two controversial aviation incidents.
The suit, marked FHC/L/CS/1632/25, was lodged before the Federal High Court in Lagos. Respondents include the President of Nigeria, the Attorney-General of the Federation, Minister of Aviation Festus Keyamo (SAN), NCAA, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Ibom Air, ValueJet, the Nigerian Correctional Service, Fuji legend King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal (KWAM 1), the Nigerian Police Force, the Governor and Attorney-General of Akwa Ibom State, and the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON).
Ademiluyi accused the parties of “gross violations of the rule of law” in their handling of separate incidents involving KWAM 1 and a female passenger, Ms. Comfort Emmanson.
“This is not about celebrity status or political connections — it’s about the sanctity of the rule of law. Mr. Kwam 1 is walking the streets free, and that is a big slap on the rule of law,” Ademiluyi stated.
The lawyer alleged that Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo acted improperly by appearing to defend one of the airlines instead of upholding the law. He also faulted the Airline Operators of Nigeria, accusing the body of acting as “complainant, prosecutor and judge” in Emmanson’s case, when it initially slammed her with a lifetime ban later withdrawn.
On August 5, KWAM 1 clashed with ValueJet officials after refusing to surrender a flask suspected to contain alcohol — a prohibited item on Nigerian flights. He insisted it was medication prescribed by his doctor. The dispute escalated until he was removed from the aircraft and later seen in front of the plane in an attempt to block its departure.
Barely five days later, on August 10, Ms. Emmanson was involved in a heated confrontation aboard an Ibom Air flight from Uyo to Lagos. She was forcefully removed by airline staff during the incident, leaving her partially exposed after her clothes were torn.
She was arraigned the next day by the police and remanded at Kirikiri Prison, Lagos. However, on August 13, a magistrate court struck out the five-count charge against her, leading to her release.
Ademiluyi says the suit is a public interest action aimed at setting a precedent that no one — no matter their fame or influence — should be above the law.
“The collective interest of the polity is at stake. We want the court to send a strong signal that the rule of law must always prevail,” he added.
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