Lawyer Sues Tinubu, NCAA For N500bn Over Kwam 1, Emmanson Saga

Public interest lawyer Ayodele Ademiluyi has filed an N500bn lawsuit against the Federal Government, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), and several others, accusing them of flouting the law in handling the two separate aviation incidents involving Fuji star King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal (Kwam 1) and Ibom Air passenger Comfort Emmanson.

The suit, filed at the Federal High Court in Lagos and marked FHC/L/CS/1632/25, lists as respondents the President of Nigeria, the Attorney-General of the Federation, Minister of Aviation Festus Keyamo, and the NCAA.

Others are the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Ibom Air, ValueJet, the Nigerian Correctional Service, Kwam 1, the Nigeria Police Force, the Governor and Attorney-General of Akwa Ibom State, and the Airline Operators of Nigeria.

Addressing journalists on Friday, Ademiluyi, who is convener of the Movement for Justice and secretary of the Radical Gender Movement, said the case was aimed at protecting public interest and holding aviation authorities accountable.

He argued that the contrasting treatment of the two incidents revealed “deep institutional weaknesses” and a dangerous precedent for impunity.

According to him, while Emmanson faced immediate arrest, detention, and prosecution, Kwam 1 escaped legal consequences.

He said, “Our aviation system needs a total overhaul. We cannot allow impunity to thrive to the point where someone can stop a plane with their bare hands and face no arrest, arraignment, or prosecution — and instead be rewarded with a brand ambassadorship for the aviation sector. What message does that send?”

Ademiluyi accused the aviation minister of bias, saying the lawsuit seeks an order of mandamus compelling authorities to act against Kwam 1.

“This is not about celebrity status or political connections; it’s about the sanctity of the rule of law,” he said.

He also criticised the Airline Operators of Nigeria for what he described as an overreach in Emmanson’s case, maintaining that the core issue is the lack of accountability for Kwam 1.

“The fact that he is walking free is a slap on the rule of law,” he said, stressing that the suit is a public interest action meant to affirm that no one, regardless of prominence, is above the law.

No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.

BACKSTORY

The incident involving Kwam 1 occurred on August 5, when a ValueJet Airlines aircraft preparing to taxi was allegedly halted by the singer. Kwam 1 was seen in viral footage standing in front of the plane to prevent it from departing.

He was also alleged to have assaulted an airport official. The act drew widespread condemnation and calls for his arrest and prosecution. He was placed on an indefinite flight ban, and a petition was filed against him.

However, last Friday, the musician publicly apologised, admitted he was wrong and pleaded for forgiveness.

Shortly after the incident, the Minister of Aviation Festus Keyamo announced that the NCAA would restore the licences of ValueJet’s Captain Oluranti Ogoyi and First Officer Ivan Oloba, both on board the aircraft, after a one-month suspension.

The review followed controversy over perceived selective justice, fuelled by the detention of another passenger, Comfort Emmanson, for “unruly” behaviour aboard an Ibom Air flight.

While Emmanson was remanded at Kirikiri Correctional Centre, many accused the government of being lenient in Kwam 1’s case.

On Wednesday, Keyamo ordered the withdrawal of the case against Emmanson, stating that after her statement was taken in the presence of her lawyer, she showed “great remorse” for her conduct.

The minister said both incidents had “helped to raise public awareness about appropriate conduct within the aviation space” and admitted that “both passengers and airline staff” had acted wrongly.

He stressed that the government’s decisions in both cases were based on “compassionate grounds”, not political pressure.

Keyamo directed aviation agencies to hold a retreat to retrain personnel on managing disruptive passengers and de-escalating tensions, while airlines will also organise sessions on staff conduct towards travellers.

Source: TheWhistler | Read Full Story…