The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has announced that popular Fuji musician, Wasiu Ayinde, also known as K1 de Ultimate, will be banned from flying within Nigeria for six months following an alleged breach of aviation security protocols at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
The Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the NCAA, Michael Achimugu, disclosed the sanction during a press briefing on Thursday, stressing that no one would be exempt from facing consequences.
“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 flying in Nigeria,” he said.
Achimugu emphasised that aviation rules were global and designed to safeguard lives, adding, “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 also revealed that the NCAA would write to the Attorney General of the Federation and the Inspector General of Police to initiate legal proceedings against the musician. When asked whether Ayinde’s close relationship with President Bola Tinubu could shield him from prosecution, Achimugu said both Tinubu and the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, were committed to upholding the rule of law.
Meanwhile, Minister Festus Keyamo has directed that the Fuji star be placed on a no-fly list pending the outcome of investigations.
In a statement posted on his official X account on Thursday, Keyamo said he had reviewed agency reports and video footage of the August 5 altercation between K1 and ValueJet crew members and concluded that both sides violated safety rules.
“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.
“From all the details so far received, my preliminary impression is that it was obviously a case of temporary loss of sanity and control on both sides, which could have led to serious fatalities,” he said.
Keyamo described the incident as “akin to a hostage situation” and accused the musician of deliberately blocking the aircraft from taxiing.
“Contrary to what the agents of Kwam 1 has 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 akin to a hostage situation,” he added.
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 that 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 Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has temporarily suspended the license 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 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 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 risk withdrawal of their operating licence,” the statement concluded.
