Comfort Emmanson, the woman at the centre of the recent Ibom Air controversy, has dragged the airline, the Federal Government, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), and several top aviation stakeholders before the Federal High Court in Lagos, demanding ₦500 billion in damages over what she described as dehumanising treatment.
The case, filed under Suit No: FHC/L/CS/1632/25 by public interest lawyer Ayodele Ademiluyi, lists as respondents: the President of the Federal Republic 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, King Wasiu Ayinde (Kwam 1), the Nigerian Police Force, the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, the state’s Attorney-General, and the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON).
Speaking at a press conference, Ademiluyi, also Convener of the Movement for Justice and Secretary of the Radical Gender Movement, said the lawsuit seeks to enforce accountability and expose the systemic rot in Nigeria’s aviation industry.
“This case goes beyond Comfort Emmanson. It is about the survival of the rule of law in Nigeria’s aviation sector. We cannot allow impunity to fester where one individual is punished while another walks free despite committing similar infractions,” Ademiluyi stated.
Alleged Double Standards
Ademiluyi criticised authorities for allegedly shielding popular Fuji musician King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal (Kwam 1), who was accused of stopping a plane, while Emmanson was swiftly sanctioned.
“There was no arrest, no arraignment, no prosecution of Mr. Kwam 1. Instead, he was rewarded with a brand ambassadorship. What message does that send to Nigerians?” the lawyer queried.
He further faulted the Airline Operators of Nigeria, accusing the body of playing the role of “complainant, prosecutor, and judge” when it imposed a life ban on Emmanson — a sanction that was later withdrawn.
Call for Industry Overhaul
Ademiluyi also accused Minister of Aviation Festus Keyamo of acting as an interested party rather than a regulator.
“We are asking the court for an order of mandamus to compel the relevant authorities to act against those involved. This is not about celebrity or political connections — it’s about justice and fairness,” he added.
The activist lawyer stressed that Nigeria’s aviation industry requires urgent reforms, warning that failure to uphold justice could erode public trust.
“Our aviation system needs a total overhaul. The judiciary must use this case to show that no one is above the law,” he declared
