NCAA Suspends Musician K1 de Ultimate from Domestic Flights for Six Months
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has announced a six-month flight suspension for popular Fuji musician, Wasiu Ayinde, widely known as K1 de Ultimate. The suspension follows an incident at the domestic terminal of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, which the agency described as a breach of aviation protocols.
Michael Achimugu, Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the NCAA, disclosed this during a press briefing on Thursday. He stated that the agency is committed to upholding aviation safety standards and ensuring accountability, regardless of an individual’s status.
“We are determined to thoroughly investigate the incident, and all parties found culpable will face appropriate sanctions,” Achimugu said. “The individual in question will be blacklisted from flying within Nigeria for a period of six months.”
Achimugu emphasized that aviation regulations are globally recognized standards designed to ensure public safety and that no exceptions will be made. He also revealed that the agency would be referring the matter to the Attorney General of the Federation and the Inspector General of Police for potential legal action.
Responding to questions about whether Ayinde’s relationship with President Bola Tinubu might influence the process, Achimugu assured that both the President and the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, are fully committed to the rule of law.
Separately, Minister Festus Keyamo has directed that K1 de Ultimate be placed on a no-fly list pending the outcome of the investigation. In a post shared via his official social media account, the minister said he had reviewed detailed reports and video evidence from various aviation authorities.
“Preliminary findings suggest a loss of control and judgment on both sides involved in the incident,” Keyamo noted. “The situation could have led to dangerous consequences and must be treated with the seriousness it deserves.”
According to the minister, Ayinde reportedly obstructed an aircraft from taxiing by repeatedly changing his position on the tarmac — an act he described as similar to a hostage scenario. “This kind of behavior cannot be tolerated, regardless of the individual’s social standing,” he stated.
Keyamo also criticized the selective enforcement of penalties, questioning why only the flight crew had been sanctioned. He insisted that the same standards must apply to all parties involved.
“In line with this, I have instructed the NCAA to include K1 de Ultimate on the no-fly list until a thorough investigation is concluded. All airlines, both domestic and international, are expected to comply with this directive or risk regulatory consequences,” he warned.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) also confirmed that an investigation is underway regarding the incident. In a statement issued on Wednesday, FAAN reported that the occurrence took place on Monday, August 5, during the boarding process for ValueJet flight VK 201 to Lagos.
The musician was alleged to have attempted to board the aircraft with a liquid container exceeding the 100ml limit allowed under international aviation security rules. Despite warnings from security personnel and the flight captain, he allegedly resisted further screening and poured the contents of the flask — reportedly alcohol — on a security officer.
In response, Ayinde denied the allegations through a statement released by his media aide, Kunle Rasheed. He claimed that the flask contained only plain drinking water, provided to him at the airport lounge, and said he tried to resolve the situation respectfully.
The statement also rejected claims that he obstructed the aircraft or jeopardized safety, stating that the musician remained composed throughout the encounter. It further alleged that senior airport and airline officials had reached out to apologize for the misunderstanding, even offering a complimentary private jet to fly him to Lagos.
“We encourage the media and public to refrain from making assumptions and allow the facts to emerge through the proper channels. K1 is a law-abiding citizen and is cooperating fully with the authorities to resolve the matter,” the statement said