Public interest lawyer, Ayodele Ademiluyi, has sued the Federal Government, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, and others for ₦500 billion over alleged breaches of the rule of law in handling two aviation infractions involving King Wasiu Ayinde and Ms. Comfort Emmanson.
The case, Ayodele Ademiluyi v. President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria & Ors (FHC/L/CS/1632/25) — seeks damages against the respondents, jointly and severally.
They include Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo (SAN), the NCAA, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Ibom Air, King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, ValueJet, and the Nigerian Correctional Service, which allegedly disrupted Ademiluyi’s interview with Emmanson.
At a Thursday press conference in Lagos, Ademiluyi, convener of the Movement for Justice and secretary of the Radical Gender Movement in the Nigerian Bar Association, said the suit is meant to hold those responsible accountable and deliver justice.
He added that the case underscores the urgent need to overhaul Nigeria’s aviation system.
“Our aviation system needs a complete overhauling,” he said. “We cannot allow impunity to reign, and we cannot degenerate into a banana republic where someone can stop a plane with their bare hands and go scot-free.”
The suit names the President, the Attorney General of the Federation, the Minister of Aviation, and King Wasiu Ayinde as respondents, seeking a mandamus order to compel authorities to act against King Wasiu and others allegedly involved. Ademiluyi also faulted King Wasiu’s appointment as an aviation brand ambassador, describing it as a wrong signal for the industry.
“If someone can stop a plane with their bare hands and be appointed a brand ambassador, what message does it send to others?” he asked.
He emphasised that the case goes beyond King Wasiu, framing it as a challenge to the wider problem of impunity and lack of accountability in Nigeria’s aviation sector.
“The issues now go beyond the two national actors, or let’s say the two national recipients in this entire episode,” he said. “The collective interest of the polity is at stake.”
Ademiluyi further stated:“Our perspective is that there is a gross imbalance in the treatment of Comfort Emmanson and King Wasiu, popularly called Kwam 1. There was no arrest of Mr. Kwam 1, there was no arraignment of Mr. Kwam 1, there was no prosecution of Mr. Kwam 1. In fact, you are giving a brand ambassadorship of the aviation ideology.
“What I have done, which is to answer your question, is to join issues with both the state and non-state actors in this entire very horrible miasma and drama that we are passing through.
“I have since filed a 500 billion naira suit in public interest against, number one, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, who is, more or less, the Chief Executive Officer of the country, and who has refused, failed, and abandoned any attempts to arrest and prosecute Kwam 1.
“That is exactly the central point we are making, and we are going to be making through that court proceeding. Number three in that suit is the Federal Minister of Aviation.”
He further stated, “And, of course, the national person that is occupying that office, Mr. Festus Keyamo, his conduct, to say the least, has been so unbecoming of any person occupying that office. He has become, more or less, the spokesperson of Ibom Air. There was a time all the charges were put on him, on his ex-handler.
“We are asking for an order of mandamus. We also joined the Nigerian Police Force, the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, and the Attorney General of Akwa Ibom State, who are persons who should have acted properly and wisely.
“We also joined our section of Airline Operators of Nigeria, who sat both as complainant, prosecutor, and judge, and gave a life ban. Of course, that life ban has been withdrawn. But the central issue is that Mr. Kwam 1 is walking the streets free. It’s a big slap on the rule of law.
“The fact is that the suit we have filed is a public interest action. The issues have now gone beyond the two national actors, or let’s say the two episodes of Kwam 1 as a person and Comfort Emmanson as a person. The collective interest of the polity is at stake.”
It was earlier reported that the Airline Operators of Nigeria has lifted the lifetime flight ban on Ms. Comfort Emmanson and pledged to collaborate with relevant aviation agencies to curb unruly passenger behaviour.
Emmanson was accused of unruly conduct aboard Ibom Air flight QI 513 from Uyo to Lagos on August 10, 2025, which led to her arrest and detention.
She was released on Wednesday after the federal government withdrew the charges against her.
In a statement signed on Thursday by its spokesman and United Nigeria Airlines Chairman, Professor Obiora Okonkwo, AON said the decision followed appeals from the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo.
