By Jane Okafor, Abuja
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority disclosed that popular Fuji musician, Wasiu Ayinde, also known as K1 de Ultimate, will be blacklisted – barred from flying within Nigeria for six months.
The sanction to be handed to him is the price to pay for alleged misconduct on Tuesday, August 5, at the domestic wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja
The incident disrupted standard operational procedures and raised concerns over passenger conduct and airline safety guidelines.
The pilot, Captain Oluranti Ogoyi, and co-pilot, First Officer Ivan Oloba, of the ValueJet aircraft were also sanctioned – the aviation regulator suspended their licenses pending the outcome of the ongoing investigation.
The Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the NCAA, Michael Achimugu, disclosed this on Thursday while briefing newsmen.
Achimugu emphasized that aviation rules are global and made in the interest of safety of all.
He added that the rules are out there for all to follow, hammering it that no individual would be exempt from accountability.
“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 from flying in Nigeria.
“So, we will do everything we can to get to the root of it. Everybody who needs to be punished or sanctioned will receive justice,” he said.
As reported earlier by The Daily Crucible, Achimugu also disclosed that the agency had taken steps to write the Attorney General of the Federation and the Inspector General of Police to initiate arrest and prosecution of Fuji musician.
NCAA, in a statement on Thursday said: ‘’We have officially petitioned the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Inspector-General of Police to launch a thorough investigation into the incident involving musician, King Wasiu Omagbolahan Olasunkanmi Adewale Ayinde Marshal, popularly known as K1 De Ultimate and domestic airline ValueJet.
‘’According to preliminary reports, during a scheduled ValueJet flight VK201, K1 De Ultimate was allegedly involved in actions that violate Nigerian civil aviation regulations.
‘’While full details of the incident are still being compiled, the NCAA has emphasised the importance of upholding aviation safety standards and ensuring accountability, regardless of the parties involved.
‘’In a letter addressed to both the Attorney-General and the Inspector-General of Police, we called for a comprehensive criminal investigation and the initiation of appropriate prosecution in accordance with the provisions of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig. CARs) 2023 supra and all other applicable laws.
‘’Furthermore, and in light of the growing concern, the Director-General of Civil Aviation, Capt. Chris Najomo has also issued an advisory to the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), urging the immediate consideration and institution of a ‘no-fly list for K1 De Ultimate(on any commercial flight), pending the outcome of official investigations.
‘’This advisory is in line with global aviation standards that prioritise the safety of passengers, crew, and airline operations.
‘’We reiterate our commitment to ensuring that no individual, regardless of their status or public image, undermines the integrity of our aviation industry, as passengers are held to the same standards of behaviour and compliance within Nigeria’s airspace.
‘’Further updates will be provided as investigations progress.’’
Also, while fielding questions from Airport and Aviation Correspondents in Lagos (LAAC) if KWAM 1 would be spared prosecution given his closeness to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Achimugu said both the President and the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, were committed to upholding the rule of law.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Minister of Aviation, Mr. Festus Keyamo, are both men who respect the law and subject themselves to security checks like every other citizen. The idea that anyone is above the law in this country is false and dangerous,” he said.
He also noted that the musician defied instructions from security personnel after being told to drop a liquid container exceeding the permissible 100ml limit for carry-on items.
The director said: “This individual was told the item exceeded the allowed limit, yet he refused to comply and insisted on boarding with it.
“He claimed to have a medical condition that required regular rehydration. But could he not have been served water on board? These are basic rules, and the question we must ask ourselves is: would he have behaved this way at Heathrow Airport (in London) or any other international hub?’’
Achimugu stressed that aviation regulations are not designed to antagonise but to ensure the safety of all passengers and crew.
He said: “These are global rules. They apply equally to everyone. If the President of Nigeria himself complies with airport security procedures, no citizen is above the law.
“Laws exist because people will break them, and that’s why enforcement institutions are in place. We’ve launched massive public education campaigns, and we will continue to do so. But where there’s a breach, there must be consequences.”
Asked if the pilot acted with due diligence, especially given the number of ground staff and the musician near the aircraft, Achimugu replied:
“Everyone involved in this incident, passenger or crew, will be held accountable.
Meanwhile, the musician has denied any wrongdoing.
In a statement by his media aide, Kunle Rasheed, K1 dismissed the media report about the incident as false and misleading.
He said that his flask contained water and not alcohol, stressing that he did not block the flight from taxing as was falsely reported by sensational section of the media.
The Fuji music maestro also expressed the confidence that the issue would be resolved amicably.
“We urge the media and the public to avoid sensationalism and allow the truth — not assumptions — to guide their judgment. K1 remains a law-abiding citizen and continues to cooperate fully with all relevant authorities to ensure that the matter is responsibly resolved,” the statement read.
