The Federal Government has been dragged before the court in a dramatic new case that puts Nigeria’s aviation industry under the spotlight. Public interest lawyer Ayodele Ademiluyi is suing the government, Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo, and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), demanding ₦500 billion in damages for what he describes as gross injustice and mismanagement.

The suit comes after two separate airport controversies that has trended. On one hand, Ms. Comfort Emmanson was swiftly prosecuted and penalized for allegedly disrupting a flight. On the other hand, Fuji legend KWAM 1 was accused of stopping a plane mid-air but walked away without any arrest or trial. To make matters worse, he was later appointed as a brand ambassador for the aviation sector.

Ademiluyi argues this double standard makes a mockery of justice and shows how deeply flawed the system has become.

In his filing, Ademiluyi is asking the court to:

• Order the government and aviation regulators to take decisive action against KWAM 1 and others involved.
• Award ₦500 billion in damages against the Federal Government, the NCAA, Ibom Air, ValueJet, and other listed respondents.
• Push for a complete overhaul of Nigeria’s aviation sector, which he says has been crippled by selective justice and impunity.

Speaking on the case, Ademiluyi warned that Nigeria cannot afford to run an aviation sector where rules only apply to the powerless.

“When a woman is jailed for disrupting a flight but a powerful man can stop a plane and get rewarded for it, what message are we sending?” he asked. He stressed that the matter goes beyond individuals and touches on the integrity of governance in the country.