The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) says it plans to ban Nigerian musician King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal (known as Kwam 1) from flying for six months because of his alleged bad behavior on a flight.
Speaking on Thursday during the 29th annual conference of the League of Airport and Aviation Correspondents (LAAC) in Lagos, Michael Achimugu, the NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, said that anyone who breaks aviation rules will be punished. He also said the NCAA is contacting the Attorney General and the Inspector General of Police to start legal action against Kwam 1.
Earlier, on Wednesday, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) gave details about the incident that happened on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, at the domestic terminal of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja. The incident involved Kwam 1 and a pilot from ValueJet Airlines.
FAAN said its initial investigation showed that Kwam 1 was supposed to board a morning ValueJet flight (Flight VK 201) to Lagos. While boarding, he tried to bring an unknown liquid onto the plane, even though Aviation Security (AVSEC) staff and the flight captain warned him multiple times not to.
According to FAAN, international aviation rules — including Nigeria’s and ICAO’s (International Civil Aviation Organization) — say that passengers can’t carry liquids over 100ml unless it’s for medical reasons and properly declared. Kwam 1 was told this but reportedly refused to obey.
While boarding continued, an airline security officer asked Kwam 1 to step aside. He refused and poured the contents of the flask (which turned out to be alcohol) on the officer. When the flight captain tried to step in, she also faced resistance. After passengers had boarded, the captain ordered the door to be closed. At that point, Kwam 1 moved to the front of the plane and refused to leave. Security eventually removed him for questioning and later released him.
On Thursday, the NCAA said its Director General, Captain Chris Nadomo, discussed the matter with top officials and decided to act quickly.
The NCAA said the pilot and flight crew have been temporarily suspended while investigations continue. The agency confirmed that Kwam 1 will be banned from flying for six months. They emphasized that aviation rules are there for everyone’s safety — not to target anyone. They also said the behavior shown in video clips from the incident did not reflect well on either Kwam 1 or the pilot. The NCAA added that they are involving the Attorney General and the Police to take legal steps against the musician.
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, supported the NCAA’s actions. He said both he and President Bola Tinubu always follow airport rules and that no Nigerian is above the law.
In his own statement on Thursday, Keyamo said that after reviewing reports and videos, it appeared that both sides lost control, and the situation could have ended very badly.
Keyamo confirmed receiving full reports and video footage of the confrontation. He said Kwam 1 kept moving around on the tarmac to block the plane from taking off — behavior he called completely unacceptable. He said whether the liquid was water or alcohol doesn’t matter — the real issue was that Kwam 1 physically stopped the aircraft from moving, which he compared to a hostage situation.
Keyamo also criticized the flight crew. He said that even if the passenger was difficult, the captain should not have started taxiing while the person was still near the plane. He said both Kwam 1 and the crew failed to follow safety rules.
Keyamo said he supports the NCAA’s decision to suspend the captain and pilot, but also wants fairness. He believes both sides should face consequences. He stressed that justice must be equal for everyone.
As a result, Keyamo has ordered that Kwam 1 be added to a no-fly list while investigations continue. All domestic and international airlines have been told to follow this directive or risk losing their operating licenses.
