NCAA

NCAA Clarifies Kwam 1 Not Charged to Court by ValueJet, But Ibom Air Did Against Unruly Passenger

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has clarified that popular Fuji musician Wasiu Ayinde, popularly known as K1 de Ultimate (Kwam 1), was not taken to court by ValueJet over alleged misconduct.

This contrasts with Ibom Air’s legal action against its passenger, Comfort Emmanson, for alleged unruly behavior.

NCAA spokesperson Michael Achimugu made the clarification on Monday, following Emmanson’s arraignment and subsequent remand in prison—a development that has sparked mixed reactions among Nigerians.

Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, criticized the situation as an example of “double standards.”

However, Achimugu emphasized that the NCAA did not file lawsuits against either Kwam 1 or Emmanson. He explained that Ibom Air independently exercised its right to pursue legal action against Emmanson.

“There’s nothing to conflate here. The Ibom Air passenger was arrested and charged by the airline, not the NCAA. Since the case is in court, the NCAA has no further role in it,” Achimugu stated.

“In Kwam 1’s case, because ValueJet did not take legal action, the NCAA—which lacks prosecutorial powers—referred the matter to the Attorney General and Inspector General of Police for further action. If ValueJet had taken Kwam 1 to court, the NCAA wouldn’t have been involved to this extent.”

He stressed, “We did not sue Kwam 1, nor did we sue Emmanson. The airlines handled their respective cases differently, and the NCAA’s role was only to escalate Kwam 1’s case to the appropriate authorities.”

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