- What is #APCPRIVILEGE? —Ireti Bakare asks
Nigeria’s Federal Government has announced plans to engage Fuji star, Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, popularly known as KWAM 1, as an ambassador for proper airport security protocol, after the recent controversy over his conduct at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
Likewise, the government ordered the withdrawal of criminal complaint against Ms. Comfort Emmanson, the passenger accused of unruly behaviour aboard an Ibom Air flight.
This was disclosed on Wednesday by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, in a statement outlining resolutions to recent cases of unruly behaviour at Nigerian airports.
Keyamo said the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority had agreed to reduce KWAM 1’s flight ban to one month and would work with the musician to promote awareness on acceptable conduct within the aviation space.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria will lead the engagement process.
The NCAA is to reduce his flight ban to a one-month period. FAAN will also work with the music star with a view to engaging him as an ambassador for proper airport security protocol going forward.
”Having publicly demonstrated penitence, the NCAA is also to withdraw its criminal complaints against KWAM 1 earlier lodged with the police,” the statement read.
The minister added that the decision followed appeals from well-meaning individuals, as well as KWAM 1’s public show of penitence over the August 5 incident in which he allegedly obstructed a ValueJet aircraft’s movement.
Keyamo also revealed that the NCAA would withdraw its criminal complaints against the artiste.
The development comes days after the musician apologised to the public, insisting the flask he carried on the day of the incident contained water for medical reasons and not alcohol, as was alleged by security personnel.
The minister emphasised that the clemency was granted on “compassionate grounds” , warning that the government remained committed to enforcing safety and security laws in the aviation sector.
On August 5, KWAM 1 was involved in a confrontation with airline staff and security officials at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, while attempting to board a ValueJet flight to Lagos.
He was accused of carrying a prohibited flask believed to contain alcohol, spilling its contents on personnel, and later walking onto the aircraft’s tarmac, allegedly blocking the plane from taxiing.
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority described the act as a breach of aviation safety regulations and initially placed him on a six-month no-fly list while filing a criminal complaint with the police.
Keyamo, in the aforementioned statement, said the move was necessitated following consultation with critical stakeholders in the Aviation Sector and those involved in the “unfortunate incidents regarding the unruly behaviours of certain individuals at our airports of recent.”
Emmanson had allegedly attacked a flight attendant and clashed with security operatives at the airport. The alleged assault led to her being arraigned and remanded at the Kirikiri Correctional Centre in Lagos State on Monday.
Reacting to the incident in a statement posted on his X page on Monday, Keyamo confirmed that Ms Emmanson was arraigned before the Ikeja Magistrates’ Court on criminal charges.
He condemned her actions, noting that she was remanded because she failed to provide adequate sureties in court.
However, the minister also criticised the circulation of the viral indecent video, which showed Ms Emmanson’s top torn and her upper body exposed.
He said he ordered action against the Ibom Air officials who leaked the footage.
Her prison remand has since sparked further outrage among civil societies, the public, including the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), which condemned Ibom Air and the Airline Operators of Nigeria for the unfair manner in which the incident was handled.
Meanwhile, Ireti Bakare, host of Borderlines on Nigeria Info, in a post on her X (formerly Twitter) page, tagged the leniency granted to KWAM 1 as an APC privilege.
“WHAT IS #APCPRIVILEGE?
“A) WHEN a Senator of the FRN stops a scheduled flight from boarding- no punishment
” B) WHEN a Fuji musician who is close to the president, who stood in front of a plane to stop it from taking- off = All criminal prosecutions dropped + flight- ban reduce from 6 to 1 month + reward as SHINNY NEW FAAN AMBASSADOR
“C) WHEN you’re an APC supporter, ALL crimes are FORGIVEN. #Apcprivilege is the RULE OF LAW IN NIGERIA.
“Dear Nigerians don’t stop speaking out. My bro @ruffydfire said this morning, “Democracy dies when we keep silent”. Thank you @kazeem_owo97478 for inspiring the hashtag. Let’s make it LOUD!”
This is Nigeria, where connections can turn misconduct into a promotion and the law bends easily for the powerful.