The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has directed the Nigeria Civil Aviation Agency to place Fuji musician, Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, better known as K1 De Ultimate, on a no-fly list.
Keyamo, who announced this in a post on his X handle on Thursday, said the artiste would be on the list pending full investigation following the altercation between the staff and crew of ValueJet and KWAM 1 at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on Tuesday.
He said that anyone who flouted the directive risked the withdrawal of their operating licence.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) had accused the musician of unruly behaviour during boarding at the airport.
The agency alleged that K1 De Ultimate, a passenger, attempted to carry an unidentified liquid substance on board a Lagos-bound aircraft despite repeated warnings from aviation security personnel and the flight captain.
FAAN’s spokesperson, Obiageli Orah, said in a statement that the aircraft was scheduled to be operated by ValueJet Airlines.
It said the musician tried to board the plane with a flask containing liquid later identified as alcohol in violation of aviation laws.
It also accused him of spilling the liquid on an airline security officer.
“The passenger was informed of this regulation but reportedly declined to comply.
It was alleged that the singer moved to the front of the aircraft and refused to vacate the area before he was taken away by security officers.
Following the incident, the NCAA has suspended two ValueJet Airlines pilots involved in the incident, which it described as a serious breach of safety protocols.
However, Keyamo described the incident as “obviously a case of temporary loss of sanity and control on both sides, which could have led to serious fatalities”.
He said that, though the decision by the NCAA to temporarily suspend the license of the captain and the pilot pending full investigation, the sanction should extend to the other party involved in the interest of justice.
“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,” he said.
The minister added, “I will not sit idly by and allow this to pass. In the 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.”
