Abuja: Nigerian Fuji artiste, King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, popularly known as K1 De Ultimate, has denied claims of inappropriate behaviour during a boarding incident on Tuesday at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. A statement issued on Thursday by K1’s media aide, Kunle Rasheed, said the reports were exaggerated and misleading.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the incident occurred from a misunderstanding when a bottle of drinking water was handed to the artiste while waiting in the airport lounge to board a ValueJet flight. Rasheed explained that the situation escalated despite K1’s efforts to clarify the contents of the bottle. He emphasized that at no point did K1 act in a manner that endangered lives or breached safety regulations. The substance in question was described as plain drinking water, and claims that K1 blocked the aircraft or attempted to disrupt operations were unfounded.
Rasheed said that airport officials, including the Head of Airport Security and executives from the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), intervened to de-escalate the issue. Despite persistent persuasion from the airline’s top executives, K1 graciously declined an offer for a private jet to fly him to Lagos at no cost.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that on Wednesday, FAAN’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Mrs. Obiageli Orah, confirmed that K1 was due to board morning flight VK 201 to Lagos on Tuesday, Aug. 5. Orah stated that preliminary findings confirmed that the musician attempted carrying an unidentified liquid onboard, despite repeated warnings from Aviation Security (AVSEC) and the Flight Captain.
Orah noted that under international standards, including Nigeria’s Civil Aviation Security Programme and ICAO Annex 17, liquids above 100ml must be declared and medically justified. The musician reportedly declined to comply with the regulation, and as boarding continued, an airline security officer asked the passenger to step aside for clarification. The passenger allegedly refused and poured the liquid – later confirmed as alcohol – on the officer. The musician was eventually escorted away by AVSEC’s crime unit for investigation and later released.
Additionally, a statement signed by NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, said the authority received reports concerning a breach of aviation safety protocols by a ValueJet pilot at the airport. Achimugu mentioned that preliminary information indicated that the pilot commenced departure procedures without adhering to mandatory pre-departure clearance protocols, which endangered the safety of ground personnel and other airport users.
Similarly, the management of ValueJet acknowledged the incident and stated that the airline was giving the NCAA its full cooperation in the authority’s investigation. The crew involved were removed immediately from active duty, pending the outcome of a thorough internal review and investigation.
