Pasuma backs K1 De Ultimate after singer apologises for Abuja airport incident

Fuji musician Wasiu Pasuma has shown support for his colleague Wasiu Ayinde, popularly known as K1 De Ultimate, after the latter apologised to Nigerians over his altercation at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

Pasuma reposted K1’s video apology on Instagram on Friday with the caption, “As humans we all bound to make mistakes. It is our remorse and ability to accept our wrongs that makes us grow into better humans. Nigerians, please accept our apology! @kingwasiuayindemarshal.”

K1 had on Friday released a video describing the incident as regrettable.

He said, “I take full responsibility for all incidents. Once again, I seek forgiveness from Mr President, the Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, who’s also my father and father of the nation, the Honourable Minister for Aviation, the pilot, the airline, the airline staff, passengers, and above all, my fans across the globe, my family, for the incident.”

The 68-year-old added that he had been a good ambassador of the country “in very many ways” and “should not be found in such incidents.”

“I accept responsibility and appeal to Mr President, the country, the Minister for Aviation, the FAAN, the NCAA, and my fans across the globe to please pardon my behaviour. My love for the country is unshakable. I am still the darling ambassador of our nation, and I’ll continue to carry the banner of this great country everywhere all my life. Please accept my apology,” he added.

K1 explained that his involvement in the dispute was over a container of water, which he said was the “bone of contention.”

In a separate statement, he clarified that he has a medical condition that requires him to stay hydrated and that the flask was only filled with water at the airport lounge.

The minister of aviation and aerospace development, Festus Keyamo, had on Thursday directed the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to place the Fuji singer on a six-month no-fly list pending full investigation.

Similarly, the NCAA petitioned the attorney-general of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi and the inspector-general of police, Kayode Egbetokun, to prosecute K1 over the Tuesday incident.

Keyamo described the incident as “obviously a case of temporary loss of sanity and control on both sides, which could have led to serious fatalities.”

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) accused K1 of attempting to board a ValueJet Airlines flight to Lagos with a flask containing liquid in violation of aviation regulations. The agency alleged he spilled the liquid on an airline security officer and blocked the aircraft from taxiing.

FAAN spokesperson Obiageli Orah said the substance was later identified as alcohol. K1, however, maintains it was water.

Following the incident, the NCAA also suspended two ValueJet pilots involved, describing their actions as a “serious breach of safety protocols.”

Keyamo, in an X post, wrote, “The issue of whether he was carrying water or alcohol is not even in issue at this point. It is the physical blockage of the aircraft from taxiing that is the reprehensible conduct here, which is akin to a hostage situation.”

He added that no amount of provocation should make a captain or pilot taxi without ensuring security personnel had safely moved an unruly passenger away from the aircraft.