Public interest advocate, Ayodele Ademiluyi, has instituted a N500 billion suit against the Federal Government, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, and several other parties at the Federal High Court in Lagos, accusing them of grossly violating the rule of law in the handling of two separate aviation incidents involving music icon, King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, and another passenger, Comfort Emmanson.
The case, marked FHC/L/CS/1632/25, names as respondents: the President of Nigeria, the Attorney-General of the Federation, Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo (SAN), NCAA, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, 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.
Speaking at a press briefing on Friday, Ademiluyi, who also serves as convener of the Movement for Justice and Secretary of the Radical Gender Movement, said the legal action was aimed at defending public interest and holding aviation stakeholders accountable.
According to him, the dispute goes beyond the individuals involved, exposing deeper institutional weaknesses.
The lawyer faulted the disparate treatment given to both cases, alleging that King Wasiu faced no legal repercussions, while Emmanson was subjected to swift punitive action.
“Our aviation system needs a complete overhaul. 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.
“It’s a gross imbalance. There was no arrest, no arraignment, no prosecution of Mr. KWAM 1.
“In fact, he was rewarded with a brand ambassadorship for the aviation sector. What message does that send to the public?” he stated.
Ademiluyi insisted that rewarding the musician with an ambassadorial role was inappropriate.
“If someone can stop a plane with their bare hands and be appointed a brand ambassador, it sends the wrong signal,” he said.
He also accused the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, of taking sides, stating, “We are asking for an order of mandamus to compel relevant authorities to take proper action against those involved, particularly Mr. KWAM 1.
“This is not about celebrity status or political connections — it’s about the sanctity of the rule of law,” he said.
The lawyer criticised the Airline Operators of Nigeria’s handling of the Emmanson matter, describing their role as overreaching, saying, “The central issue remains: Mr. Kwam 1 is walking the streets free. That is a big slap on the rule of law. The suit we have filed is a public interest action. The collective interest of the polity is at stake,” he said.
Ademiluyi urged the court to use the matter as a landmark opportunity to affirm that no individual, regardless of prominence, is beyond legal accountability.
(Punch)
