NCAA bars Fuji star K1 de Ultimate from flying for six months.
NCAA bars Fuji star K1 de Ultimate from flying for six months.
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has announced that renowned Fuji musician, Wasiu Ayinde, popularly known as K1 de Ultimate, will be barred from flying within Nigeria for six months due to alleged misconduct at the domestic terminal of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.
The NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, made this known during a press briefing on Thursday.
“I want to assure the general public that everyone involved in this matter will be held accountable,” Achimugu stated. “As it stands, the passenger will be blacklisted from flying in Nigeria for the next six months.”
Achimugu added that aviation rules are global and made for the safety of all, stressing that no individual would be exempt from accountability.
“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 added.
He further revealed that the agency was writing to the Attorney General of the Federation and the Inspector General of Police to initiate legal proceedings against the musician.
When asked whether Ayinde would be spared prosecution due to his close ties with President Bola Tinubu, Achimugu said both Tinubu and the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, were committed to upholding the rule of law.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has directed that K1 be placed on a no-fly list pending the outcome of an investigation into the incident.
In a post on his official X account on Thursday, Keyamo said he had reviewed reports and video footage from relevant aviation agencies and concluded that both the musician and the aircraft crew acted in ways that breached safety protocols.
“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,” the minister said.
Keyamo added that the action was “akin to a hostage situation,” warning that no one, including celebrities, would be allowed to act with impunity.
He added, “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 also questioned why only the pilot and captain had been sanctioned, stating that “what applies to the goose must also apply to the gander.”
“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.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria had earlier confirmed it was investigating K1 de Ultimate over an alleged violation of aviation security protocols at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
In a statement on Wednesday, FAAN said the incident occurred during boarding procedures for a ValueJet Airlines flight (VK 201) to Lagos on Monday, August 5.
The musician was accused of attempting to carry an unidentified liquid substance onboard despite repeated warnings from aviation security personnel and the flight captain.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) clarified that the item in question—a flask—contained liquid exceeding the 100ml limit allowed under international aviation security guidelines.
Tensions reportedly rose when the Fuji musician allegedly refused additional screening and poured the contents of the flask, later identified as alcohol, on a security official.
However, K1 de Ultimate denied any wrongdoing, calling the reports exaggerated and misleading. In a statement released by his media aide, Kunle Rasheed, the singer claimed the flask only contained plain drinking water provided at the airport lounge, and that he made polite attempts to explain the situation before it was unnecessarily escalated.
The statement refuted allegations that he obstructed the aircraft or posed any threat to safety protocols, emphasizing that K1 remained calm and did not behave in a way that endangered anyone.
It further alleged that senior airport officials and airline representatives personally apologized for the misunderstanding and even offered him a complimentary private jet flight to Lagos.
“We urge the media and public to steer clear of sensationalism and rely on facts rather than assumptions,” the statement said. “K1 remains a law-abiding citizen and is fully cooperating with relevant authorities to ensure a responsible resolution of the matter.”
