The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has announced its decision to blacklist popular Fuji musician, King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, widely known as KWAM 1 or K1 De Ultimate, from flying within Nigeria for a period of six months.
NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, made this known during a press briefing on Thursday in Abuja.
Achimugu said the disciplinary measure followed the artist’s unruly conduct at the domestic terminal of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, where he reportedly spilled alcohol on an airline staff member during boarding on Tuesday.
“No individual, no matter how influential, is above the rules that govern civil aviation conduct. We are taking this step to ensure that standards are upheld and airport workers are protected from harassment,” Achimugu stated.
The incident, which occurred earlier in the week, drew widespread criticism from members of the public after the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) confirmed that KWAM 1 had behaved in a disorderly manner during a boarding process of a commercial flight.
In its statement on Wednesday, FAAN said the musician was seen holding a bottle of an alcoholic beverage during boarding and, in the course of events, spilled its contents on a cabin crew member. FAAN described the act as “unacceptable” and “a violation of aviation safety protocol.”
“The behaviour displayed by the passenger was completely out of line with safety and hospitality standards. We will not condone actions that threaten the integrity of airport operations,” a FAAN spokesperson had said.
Meanwhile, the musician denied the allegations, stating that the content of the bottle was water, and not alcohol.
KWAM 1’s team also revealed that he was apologised to, stating, if indeed there had been anything inappropriate in his conduct, the Head of Airport Security, officials from relevant agencies such as FAAN and NCAA, as well as the Chairman and Managing Director of the airline, would not have reached out personally to appeal.
