Kwam 1: Why we suspended pilot’s license—NCAA
Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority NCAA
Abdullateef Fowewe
In the wake of the controversial incident involving popular Fuji musician, Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, also known as Kwam 1, at Abuja’s Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has suspended the licences of two ValueJet pilots.
This incident has sparked significant public discourse and a lot of controversial comments have been circulated across social media.
Taking to X, a netizen identified as Omojuwa wrote, “The punishment for alleging that a passenger was unruly isn’t to kill them with a plane.”
In a terse but explanatory remark, the NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, emphasised that stopping an aircraft from flying is considered terrorism and underlined the gravity of the pilots’ breach of protocols as well.
“True. This is why the NCAA has suspended the licence of the pilot. Stopping an aircraft from flying is considered terrorism,” Achimugu wrote quoting Omojuwa’s tweet.
It would be recalled that the suspended pilots, Captain Oluranti Ogoyi and First Officer Ivan Oloba, allegedly commenced departure procedures without mandatory pre-departure clearance, endangering airport safety.
However, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), through Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Obiageli Orah, provided an official account of the incident on August 5, 2025, enunciating Kwam 1 was scheduled to board a ValueJet flight to Lagos but attempted to carry an unidentified liquid flask onboard despite warnings from Aviation Security and the Flight Captain. Upon refusal to comply with security protocols—consistent with Nigeria’s National Civil Aviation Security Programme (NCASP) and ICAO Annex 17 regulations concerning liquids exceeding 100ml—an altercation ensued.
The musician spilled the flask’s contents on a security officer; the Flight Captain intervened but was met with resistance. After closing the aircraft door, the passenger refused to leave the front of the plane and had to be escorted away by security. FAAN stressed its commitment to aviation safety, declaring that all involved would be held accountable by law.
However, Kwam 1’s spokesperson, Kunle Rasheed, disputed the portrayal of the musician as unruly, calling the allegations “exaggerated and misleading.”
He stated that the flask contained plain drinking water and that Kwam 1 acted respectfully.
“At no point did K1 act in a manner that endangered lives or breached safety regulations,” Rasheed insisted.
The spokesperson highlighted that despite attempts by airline officials to resolve the issue amicably—offering even private jet transport to Lagos—the musician declined, underscoring his cooperation with authorities.
ValueJet Airlines released a statement acknowledging the incident and confirming cooperation with the NCAA investigation.
The airline has removed the involved crew from active duty pending a thorough internal review, reaffirming that “safety is not negotiable.”
However, as the investigation continues, NCAA and FAAN have underscored their unwavering commitment to upholding the highest aviation safety and security standards, reminding all stakeholders that no individual is exempt from compliance.
Dailyeconomy had on Wednesday reported that Kwam 1 narrowly avoided the wing of a ValueJet plane at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, after allegedly spilling alcohol on a flight attendant who asked him to surrender a flask suspected to contain the drink.
