Popular Fuji musician, King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, also known as K1 De Ultimate, has refuted claims by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) that he acted unruly and attempted to board a ValueJet flight with alcohol at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
The controversy emerged following a near-tragic incident in which the veteran artiste was nearly struck by the wing of a ValueJet aircraft during boarding procedures. According to reports, the musician was standing in front of the aircraft alongside a few ground personnel when the pilot initiated take-off procedures. He had to quickly duck to avoid being hit by the wing of the plane.
FAAN, through its Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Obiageli Orah, issued a statement on Wednesday addressing the incident which occurred on Monday, August 5, 2025. The agency alleged that the musician had attempted to carry an unidentified liquid substance onto the flight bound for Lagos and refused to comply with security regulations after being warned by both aviation security officials and the flight captain.
The statement read: “Preliminary investigations confirmed that the passenger was scheduled to board the morning ValueJet flight VK 201 to Lagos. During boarding, he attempted to carry an unidentified liquid, which was later identified as alcohol, despite being informed of aviation rules that prohibit carrying liquids exceeding 100ml unless declared and justified, such as for medical reasons.”
“The passenger declined to adhere to these regulations and reportedly poured the contents of the flask on an airline security officer. The flight captain also attempted to intervene but met resistance. When boarding was complete and the doors were to be shut, the passenger reportedly moved to the front of the aircraft and refused to leave the area, prompting intervention from the Aviation Security (AVSEC) crime unit. He was later escorted away for further questioning and subsequently released.”
However, in a swift rebuttal, K1’s media aide, Kunle Rasheed, issued a counter-statement titled “K1 De Ultimate and the ValueJet Episode: Setting the Record Straight.” He described FAAN’s account as exaggerated and misleading, stressing that the incident had been sensationalised in a way that misrepresented the facts.
According to Rasheed, the substance in question was not alcohol, but plain drinking water handed to the musician while he waited in the airport lounge. He noted that despite K1’s respectful efforts to explain, the situation was unnecessarily escalated.
“At no point did K1 exhibit any behaviour that posed a threat to anyone or breached any safety protocol. He did not attempt to disrupt flight operations or obstruct the aircraft in any way,” the statement read.
“King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal is an internationally respected artiste who frequently travels both within and outside the country and is well acquainted with aviation protocols. He would not, under any circumstances, act in a way that endangers lives.”
Rasheed also revealed that following the misunderstanding, top officials from FAAN, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), and even the Chairman and Managing Director of ValueJet reached out to the musician. They reportedly offered apologies and arranged for a private jet to convey him to Lagos at no cost — an offer which K1 declined politely.
“This gesture alone speaks volumes. If his conduct had been inappropriate, such reconciliatory efforts would not have been made. Furthermore, no one else aside from K1 and his assistant was directly involved in the situation. Even a few concerned passengers who witnessed what happened appealed to him to stay calm, recognising the pressure he was under.”
He concluded by urging the public and the media to avoid sensationalising the matter and instead allow the truth to prevail. He reiterated that K1 remains a law-abiding citizen committed to cooperating with relevant authorities for a responsible resolution of the incident.