‘British Airways staff in Ghana mocked my disability, hit me’ – Tiannah’s Empire CEO, Toyin Lawani (Video)

Nigerian fashion entrepreneur and CEO of Tiannah’s Empire, Toyin Lawani, has publicly accused British Airways staff of verbal abuse and physical mistreatment during an attempted flight departure from Ghana. 

Lawani alleges the incident included mockery related to her disability, sparking outrage online. The fashion entrepreneur came down with a degenerative spine disease that has negatively impacted her mobility. She was also diagnosed with a trachea condition that has affected her speech.

In a post shared across her social media platforms, Lawani said she was “verbally abused and physically assaulted” by airline personnel while trying to board a British Airways flight from Ghana to the United States. 

According to the reports, the incident unfolded amid a confrontation at the airport, during which she claims airline staff behaved unprofessionally toward her.

She captured part of her confrontation with the BA staff, including where the official appeared to knocked out the phone being used by Lawani to record the proceedings.

Lawani, a well-known fashion designer, stylist, and reality TV personality with a large following across Nigeria and beyond, also highlighted her ongoing health struggles.

Public support for Toyin Lawani

News of the incident has spread rapidly on social media, with many Nigerians and online users expressing support for Lawani and demanding a full explanation from British Airways. 

Critics argue that airlines must ensure respectful treatment of all passengers, particularly those with health challenges or disabilities.

Others have raised questions about what led to the confrontation, with calls for details from both Lawani and British Airways to be published so the public can understand the context fully.

British Airways yet to comment publicly

As of the latest updates, British Airways has not issued an official statement responding to Lawani’s allegations. 

The airline, one of the world’s most established carriers, is known for its global route network and widely used services.

Toyin Lawani’s profile and health background

Toyin Lawani is a celebrated figure in Nigeria’s fashion and entertainment industry, known for her bold public persona and business ventures through Tiannah’s Place Empire. 

She has previously spoken openly about her health challenges, including spine issues and the impact of medical procedures on her mobility and quality of life.

See her full post:

“I was traveling back to the UK from ghana, I have Degenerative spine disease, So due to my spinal implant, I use a walking stick permanently, and wheelchair service through the airport as I can’t lift anything heavy or stand for too long,

Which affects my limp and due to trachea injury affecting my speech; I cant speak too loudly and when I force myself to scream sometimes when Angry my body goes into shock in distress.

So I avoid any stress.

So what really happened?

My flight was 9.10 pm,

I had checked in online.

Due to traffic I got to the counter 7.40pm on the dot.

I saw 10 or more people on queue. I was meant to pick up my boarding pass & drop my bags.

They closed the barricade and said no that they had stopped checking in even though they were still checking in all the other people on queue.

They insisted they had closed the counter,

we questioned it,

cause we felt the management could still help at this point since we made it to the queue and also because I’ve checked in online.

They were rude, nasty &dismissiv,e not even paying attention to us, in all of these we were still calm,

We kept pleading with them that i had hospital appointment,

Next thing we saw this lady,checking in a passenger by the corner and snapping her boarding pass, @segun_wealth made a video of her in the process, immediately she saw us making the video, she freaked out and said they are friends.

Friends and you are snapping her boarding pass?

The passenger pleaded with @segun_wealth to delete the video as her face was showing in it, she was very polite & he agreed to delete the video.Which was our main evidence, but when proper investigation starts, Airport cctv has a huge role to play in this. A whole ghana cant say they dont have CCTV at the airport.

Next thing, this lady kept screaming at us at the top of her voice AGGRESSIVELY, saying if we don’t delete the video she will make sure i don’t travel, even if I rebook my ticket.

Ah thats when my head touched o and I brought out my phone to record her to say it again,

she repeated it, like her father owns @british_airways

See the video here.