Comfort to Kirikiri, KWAM 1’s Apology Accepted: How Two Similar Occurrences Revealed Nigeria’s Imbalance

In the past week, two similar incidents in Nigeria’s Aviation sector have stirred public discussions, especially in relation to the seeming ‘unfairness’ of Nigeria’s Justice system.

On August 5, 2025, renowned Fuji musician Wasiu Ayinde Marshal (KWAM 1) grounded a Valuejet aircraft at the Nnamdi Azikiwe after he was prevented from boarding the aircraft with a flask allegedly containing alcohol, even as he argued it contained medications. Then over the weekend, another passenger, Comfort Emmanson, was said to have assaulted the Air staff after she was told to switch off her phone on the flight from Akwa Ibom to Lagos.

Different Punishments

In the aftermath of the incident involving K1, the Fuji artist issued an apology video which was swiftly shared by the CEO of  Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa who stated the maxim ‘To err is human, to forgive is divine’. K1 was subsequently slapped with six months no-fly ban and that was the end.

Comfort Emmanson on her part did not end up lucky as K1 did as she was barred from flying Ibom Air for life in addition to being remanded in Kirikiri maximum prison.

Deeper Nigerian Issue

The different response to both cases reveal a deep flaw in Nigeria’s judicial system which has been subtly reinforced over the years. For context, section 85 of the Civil Aviation Act 2022 explicitly states anyone who assaults, intimidates, threatens, or otherwise interferes with a flight crew member, such as a flight attendant or steward commits an offense.

Upon conviction, the punishment is a fine of at least ₦200,000 or imprisonment for at least 2 months, or both with the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) stating that individuals engaging in such behavior may face fines ranging from ₦1,000,000 to ₦10,000,000, and jail terms between six months and one year. Additionally, perpetrators risk being placed on no-fly registers.

So, while Comfort Emmanson is ‘cooling off in Kirikiri’ as Tunde Moshood, the special adviser on media and communications to the minister of aviation and aerospace development puts it, KWAM 1 would be cooling off in his comfy apartment despite committing similar offences a week apart.

 

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