WASIU Ayinde Marshal, the popular fuji musician, widely known as KWAM 1 and K1 De Ultimate, has apologised to Nigerians and the Federal Government for his unruly conduct, in which he attempted to block a Valuejet aircraft set for take-off at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
He tendered the apology in a statement he personally signed and posted by his spokesperson, Kunle Rasheed, on Facebook on Friday, August 8, hours after Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, directed the Nigeria Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to place him on a no-fly list for six months.
The minister had described KWAM1’s action and that of the aircraft’s pilot, who left the airport with the aeroplane without clearance by lawful authorities, as an act of insanity.
He imposed a six-month ban on the globetrotting musician, vowing that any aircraft that allows him to travel within and outside Nigeria in the next six months would be penalised.
However, following his widespread condemnation by Nigerians and the government, including the NCAA, the musician described the incident as ‘unfortunate’ and gave the reason for holding a flask believed to have contained alcohol, which was the cause of the crisis.
The ICIR reported that he was not allowed to board the aircraft after he refused to hand over the flask to the airline officials at the point of boarding.
He was blocked from boarding, and he did all he could to stop the aircraft from taking off until he was almost severed by one of the flight’s wings, as the pilot angrily taxied off.
In his apology on Friday, KWAM 1 said he often suffered from chronic dehydration, necessitating constant hydration as advised by his doctor.
“The incident that occurred at the local wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on August 5, 2025, involving my humble self and ValueJet Airline, was to say the least, unfortunate.
“Unknown to many, I suffer from chronic dehydration, and my doctor strongly advised that I remain constantly hydrated. This is why I always carry a water flask with me. And contrary to the negative narrative being circulated in some quarters, the flask I carried on that particular day contained only water — not alcohol, as wrongly alleged,” the musician said.
He said he passed through two security checks before getting to the tarmac where he was blocked from boarding.
He further noted that his claims could be verified from the airport’ CCTV, adding that he only had water in his flask.
He expressed gratitude to his fans for standing by him.
“However, I acknowledge and deeply regret the concerns that arose from the incident. It was never my intention to cause any disruption or violate aviation protocols in any way…
“The incident is sincerely regretted. I remain committed to upholding the values and responsibilities that come with being a global ambassador of Nigerian music and culture.”
He specifically apologised to the Presidency, Ministry of Aviation, Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), NCAA, ValueJet, all Nigerians, and his fans worldwide.
He said his “unwavering patriotism and unshaken loyalty” to Nigeria had never been in doubt.
“Over the years, I have consistently used my God-given talent and platform to promote the Nigerian brand across the globe.
“I would never do anything to tarnish the image I’ve built over the past five decades, nor would I knowingly act in a way that could diminish the reputation of the country I love so dearly.,’ he stated.
The ICIR reported that the saga began on August 5 when the FAAN announced that the 68-year-old musician had tried to board a ValueJet Airlines flight to Lagos carrying an “unidentified liquid substance.”
Airport authorities claimed that the singer ignored warnings from both Aviation Security (AVSEC) personnel and the flight captain.
They further alleged that the singer spilled alcohol on aviation personnel while they tried to inspect the contents of a flask he intended to travel with.
The singer argued that the substance was “plain drinking water” given to him at the airport lounge while awaiting boarding and not alcohol.
NOTE: This report has been updated to reflect KWAM1’s apology as shared by his spokesperson, Kunle Rasheed on Facebook, and not the copy shared by Bolaji Basia, said to be the musician’s longtime friend.
Nanji is an investigative journalist with the ICIR. She has years of experience in reporting and broadcasting human angle stories, gender inequalities, minority stories, and human rights issues. She has documented sexual war crimes in armed conflict, sex for grades in Nigerian Universities, harmful traditional practices and human trafficking.