Former President of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Mr. Peter Esele, has strongly condemned the recent airport misconduct involving Fuji music icon, Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, popularly known as K1 De Ultimate, asserting that public apologies must not be allowed to substitute due process and justice.
The incident, which occurred on August 5 at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, saw K1 allegedly defy aviation safety protocols by attempting to board a ValueJet flight with a liquid-filled flask exceeding the permitted 100ml limit. Reports claim the musician poured the contents of the flask—allegedly alcohol—on the flight captain and obstructed the aircraft from taxiing.
In response to the backlash, K1 issued a public apology, stating the flask contained water due to a medical condition requiring constant hydration. However, Mr. Esele has criticized the apology as insufficient, warning against a culture where fame and influence shield individuals from accountability.
“This is a metaphor for a nation where power exempts one from consequence,” Esele stated. “Should apologies replace justice? What happens when laws only apply to the powerless?”
Esele emphasized that aviation laws are clear and must be enforced without bias. He called for strengthened civic education and institutional integrity, urging authorities to uphold the rule of law regardless of status or celebrity.
“We must rebuild civic education, empower institutions to act without fear or favor, and insist that the law protect everyone equally,” he added.
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has since placed K1 De Ultimate on a six-month no-fly list pending the outcome of a full investigation, as directed by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo.