Public interest lawyer, Ayodele Ademiluyi, has dragged the Federal Government and 12 others before the Federal High Court in Lagos, demanding N500 billion in damages over the what he described as a “blatant breach of the rule of law” in the handling of two aviation-related infractions involving Fuji musician, King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, popularly known as Kwam 1, and passenger, Ms. Comfort Emmanson.
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The suit, filed under number FHC/L/CS/1632/25, lists as respondents: the President of Nigeria, the Attorney-General of the Federation, Minister of Aviation Festus Keyamo (SAN), the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Ibom Air, ValueJet, the Nigerian Correctional Service, King Wasiu Ayinde, the Nigerian Police Force, the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, the state’s Attorney-General, and the Airline Operators of Nigeria.
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Speaking at a press conference, Ademiluyi said the suit was filed to enforce accountability and protect the public interest. According to him, the issue transcends the personalities involved and reflects “systemic decay” in the nation’s aviation sector.
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“Our aviation system needs a complete overhauling. We cannot allow impunity to reign or degenerate into a banana republic where someone can stop a plane with their bare hands and walk away without consequence,” he stated.
Ademiluyi accused authorities of double standards, stressing that while Emmanson was swiftly sanctioned and faced severe penalties, Kwam 1 was neither arrested, arraigned, nor prosecuted.
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He added, “In fact, he was rewarded with a brand ambassadorship for the aviation sector. What message does that send to the public?”
The lawyer argued that Minister of Aviation Festus Keyamo acted improperly by allegedly siding with one of the airlines instead of enforcing the law. He also criticised the Airline Operators of Nigeria for imposing a life ban on Emmanson, a sanction later withdrawn, describing the move as “unlawful and prejudicial.”
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Ademiluyi is asking the court for an order of mandamus to compel relevant authorities to take appropriate legal action against those involved, especially Kwam 1.
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“This is not about celebrity status or political connections, it’s about the sanctity of the rule of law. If someone can stop a plane with their bare hands and be appointed a brand ambassador, it sends the wrong signal. The judiciary must set a precedent that no one is above the law,” he said.
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