Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Nigerian celebrity stylist and entrepreneur Toyin Lawani has publicly alleged that she was subjected to physical assault, verbal abuse and discriminatory treatment by British Airways staff while attempting to check in for a flight at Kotoka International Airport in Accra, Ghana. The account of the incident has been shared on social media and widely reported on entertainment and gossip news platforms, reflecting Lawani’s own narrative of what transpired, though no official statement from British Airways or Ghanaian authorities has been issued to independently verify all aspects of her claims.
According to the online statements attributed to Lawani, she arrived at the British Airways check-in counter at approximately 7:40 p.m. for a scheduled 9:10 p.m. flight after completing her check-in online. Lawani, who has openly discussed her ongoing health challenges including a degenerative spinal condition that limits her mobility, said she uses a walking stick and requires wheelchair assistance when travelling. She alleges that despite explaining her medical condition and need for assistance, airline staff were dismissive and refused to help her board, even as other passengers continued to be processed.
In her version of events, tensions escalated when her companion noticed a staff member checking in another passenger after the counter was declared closed. Lawani claimed that as she attempted to record the situation, a female British Airways employee became confrontational, threatened to ban her from future travel, and struck her, causing her phone to fall from her hand. She also alleged that multiple staff engaged in derogatory remarks and mocked her disability during the encounter.
Lawani further stated that police were called to the scene, and that officers present did not take the side of the airline staff after observing the incident. As a result of the confrontation, she said she missed her flight, lost access to her bank cards, and was obliged to purchase a new ticket costing over US $3,000 (approximately ₦5 million) to return to the United Kingdom. She also claims that she missed scheduled medical appointments due to the disruption and trauma of the incident.
Lawani has demanded accountability from British Airways, insisting the airline should address the conduct of its employees and the impact the episode has had on her health and wellbeing.
At the time of reporting, there are no independent confirmations from British Airways, Ghana’s aviation authorities or verified aviation safety bodies verifying the full details of Lawani’s account. Major international and Ghanaian news outlets have not published corroborating reports, and airline or airport authority responses have not been made publicly available, making elements of the claims based on her personal statement and secondary social media coverage.
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