… May Face Prosecution As NCAA Writes, AGF, IGP
Director of Public Affairs &Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has blacklisted popular Fuji Musician,King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal also known as KWAM 1 for six months over and with a formal request for criminal prosecution over the unruly behavior at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja.
According to the NCAA, the Fuji musician’s actions on board ValueJet Flight VK 201 to Lagos violated global aviation safety regulations and created significant disruption at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
The incident led to the immediate suspension of the flight’s pilot and first officer.
Speaking at the 29th Annual Conference of the League of Airport and Aviation Correspondents)LAAC) held today in Lagos, Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, NCAA, Michael Achimugu, said,
“As we speak, the passenger is going to be blacklisted for the next six months by NCAA.”
“Aviation rules are made for everybody, for the protection of everybody. These rules are global.”
NCAA said that during boarding process, Kwam 1 was informed that carrying liquids over 100ml without proper declaration contravened both Nigeria’s National Civil Aviation Security Programme (NCASP) and ICAO Annex 17 regulations.
He added that after he was denied boarding access, he allegedly blocked the aircraft from departing, prompting security concerns and a full-scale regulatory response.
Speaking further, Achmugu said, “If the engine of that plane was not positioned where it was, what would have happened to the passenger?”Achimugu asked, citing the videos reviewed by the NCAA.
He informed that the NCAA , under the directive of Director General Capt. Chris Najomo and with approval from Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, suspended the licenses of both cockpit crew members pending investigation.
According to him, “What I must assure the general public is that everybody involved in this will be brought to book.”
He pointed out that besides blacklisting
Kwam 1, NCAA also confirmed that it will write to both the Attorney General of the Federation(AGF) and the Inspector General of Police(IGP)to initiate legal proceedings against the Fuji star.
In his words, “Everybody who needs to be punished or sanctioned will receive the punishment.”
He stated that it is difficult to manage an unruly passenger despite the fact that airline operations is regulated stringently.
“We’ve been carrying out massive awareness campaigns, but that’s why FAAN AVSEC is in place—to deal with such scenarios,” he said.
On the insinuation that the passenger’s closeness to highly exposed politicians in the Presidency, may shield him from prosecution, the NCAA Director noted that the law applies equally to all, adding that the blacklisting of KWAM 1 will be a detente to others.
“President Bola Tinubu is a respecter of the law. So is our Minister, Festus Keyamo. Both subject themselves to full airport security checks. No Nigerian is above the law,” Achmugu asserted
He emphasised that aviation safety cannot be compromised under any circumstances, no matter the profile of the passenger involved, stressing that there is nothing about the rules that antagonizes any passenger.
“Even for the passenger’s own sake, watch those videos, does it speak well of the passenger or the pilot?”
In aviation, being blacklisted means that an individual, airline, or organisation has been officially banned, restricted, or denied access to specific aviation services, facilities, or privileges due to non-compliance, misconduct, or safety/security violations,” he said.
Meanwhile, stakeholders in the industry has advocated for stricter enforcement and public awareness campaigns following KWAM 1′,s unruly behaviour at Abuja Airport.
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