NCAA Reduces K1 De Ultimate’s Flight Ban, Names Him Aviation Protocol Ambassador
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, has announced the withdrawal of criminal charges against Fuji musician Wasiu Ayinde Marshall, popularly known as K1 De Ultimate, and Ms. Comfort Emmanson, following separate incidents of unruly conduct at Nigerian airports.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Keyamo said the decision came after two days of consultations with key aviation stakeholders. He noted that while the incidents were regrettable, they had underscored the importance of public awareness on proper behaviour and compliance with airport security procedures.
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On August 10 Ibom Air incident involving Emmanson, the minister said the airline agreed to drop its complaint after she showed remorse during a police interview. Her release from Kirikiri Prison is expected this week, and the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) has lifted her lifetime flight ban.
In K1’s case, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has reduced his flight ban from six months to one month. The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) will also partner with the music star to promote awareness of airport security rules, appointing him an ambassador for the initiative. The NCAA will equally withdraw its police complaint against him.
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Keyamo added that the licences of ValueJet’s Captain Oluranti Ogoyi and First Officer Ivan Oloba, suspended over the same incident, will be reinstated after a one-month ban and completion of mandatory professional re-evaluation.
The minister further directed all aviation agencies to convene a retreat next week to retrain airport security staff on conflict management, handling disruptive passengers, and improving airline–passenger relations.
He stressed that the decisions were made on compassionate grounds but warned that the government remains committed to strict enforcement of safety and security measures in the aviation sector.