August 07, (THEWILL) — The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has announced that Fuji musician, King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, also known as K1 De Ultimate, will be blacklisted for six months over alleged unruly behaviour at the domestic terminal of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.
Speaking on Thursday on the sidelines of the 29th annual conference of the League of Airport and Aviation Correspondents (LAAC) which took place in Lagos, NCAA’s Director, Public Affairs Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, disclosed that the Authority is currently writing to the attorney-general of the federation and the inspector-general of police to initiate legal proceedings against Kwam 1.
On Wednesday, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) addressed the incident that occurred on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, at the domestic terminal of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, involving Kwam 1 and a pilot of ValueJet Airlines.
The Authority said preliminary investigations confirmed that Kwam 1 was scheduled to board the morning flight to Lagos operated by ValueJet Airlines (Flight VK 201) and that during boarding, he attempted to carry an unidentified liquid substance on board despite repeated warnings from Aviation Security (AVSEC) personnel and the Flight Captain.
FAAN said: “In accordance with international aviation security standards, specifically, Nigeria’s National Civil Aviation Security Programme (NCASP) and ICAO Annex 17, liquids exceeding 100ml are not permitted through security screening unless medically necessary and properly declared. The passenger was informed of this regulation but reportedly declined to comply.
“As boarding continued, an airline security officer asked the passenger to step aside for further clarification. The passenger allegedly refused and spilt the contents of the flask on the officer, which turned out to be alcohol. The Flight Captain intervened but faced similar resistance. After confirming that boarding was complete, she instructed the closure of the aircraft door. At this juncture, the passenger moved to the front of the aircraft and refused to leave the area despite repeated requests. He was ultimately escorted away by the AVSEC crime unit for further investigation, after which he was released.”
Reacting to the incident on Thursday, the NCAA said the Director General, Captain Chris Nadomo, has spoken with the relevant directors and came to the conclusion that immediate action must be taken.
“The pilots have also been suspended pending the outcome of investigations. What I must assure the general public is that everybody involved in this will be brought to book.
“As we speak, the passenger is going to be blacklisted for the next six months. Aviation rules are made for the protection of everybody. There’s nothing about the rules that antagonise any passenger. So, even for the passenger’s own sake, if you watch those videos, does it speak well of the passenger or the pilot? So, we will do everything we can to get to the root of it.
“Everybody who needs to be punished for sanctions will receive the punishment. The NCAA is writing to the Attorney General of the Federation and the Inspector General of Police as we speak to take up a court case against the passenger in this case. President Bola Tinubu is a respecter of the law, and so is the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo. Both of them submit themselves to every security check at every airport, everywhere in the world. No Nigerian is above the law,” Achimugu declared
Confirming the NCAA’s position, Keyamo said in a statement on Thursday that his preliminary impression was that it was a case of temporary loss of sanity and control on both sides, which could have led to serious fatalities.
He said: “I have received reports from all the relevant aviation agencies regarding the altercation between the staff and crew of ValueJet and Kwam 1 at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on Tuesday, August 7, 2025. I have also received video footage of the incident. Contrary to what the agents of Kwam 1 have said, he constantly moved his position on the tarmac to actually block the aircraft from taxiing to take position on the runway for take-off. This is totally unacceptable behaviour. The issue of whether he was carrying water or alcohol is not even in issue at this point. It is the physical blockage of the aircraft from taxiing that is the reprehensible conduct here, which is akin to a hostage situation. The actual video footage showing this recalcitrant behaviour is hereby attached.
“On the other hand, no amount of provocation should make the captain and pilot of an aircraft begin to taxi without ensuring that the security personnel have safely moved an unruly passenger away who is standing in front of an aircraft. Both sides breached standard safety protocol as required by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).
“I have noted that the NCAA has temporarily suspended the licence of the captain and the pilot pending full investigation. I commend them for their proactive action. However, I have also questioned their sense of justice in only acting against one party and not the other party. What applies to the goose must also apply to the gander. That is one of the tenets of Justice I have preached all my life. I will not sit idly by and allow this to pass.
“In this circumstance, I have also directed the NCAA to place Kwam 1 on a no-fly list pending further and full investigation, just like the Captain and Pilot. All airlines, both domestic and International, should immediately be informed of this directive, and anyone who flouts this directive risks the withdrawal of their operating licence.”
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