Director of public affairs and consumer protection of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Michael Achimugu provides an expanded account of the events that unfolded at the ValueJet boarding gate, describing how K1 De Ultimate allegedly splashed liquid on the pilot’s uniform and the immediate steps taken by aviation authorities and security personnel.
In his explanation, Achimugu recounts that the incident began at the final boarding checkpoint when the musician was informed—consistent with standard international aviation security rules—that liquids exceeding 100 ml are not permitted in carry-on luggage. According to the NCAA spokesperson, this instruction triggered a confrontation between the passenger and airline staff which escalated at the aircraft’s foot.
Achimugu said the pilot, having heard the disturbance outside the aircraft, went out to assess the situation. During that exchange, the passenger allegedly splashed liquid onto the pilot’s uniform. The NCAA official described the passenger’s behaviour as unruly and detailed how such conduct is treated seriously by both airlines and regulatory authorities because it poses risks to safety and disrupts scheduled operations.
The full statement from Achimugu, provided during an appearance on Arise TV, reads in part:
“Well, thank you very much. The passenger has presented himself for boarding and has been told by the Pathfinders that he cannot be allowed to board with liquid above 100 ml, which is standard globally. This passenger has become agitated and has refused to listen to that instruction and proceeds towards the foot of the aircraft. And the pilot, on hearing the commotion outside, steps out to ascertain the situation of things. And during the conversation, this passenger has you know, splash liquid on the body of the pilot, on the uniform of the pilot. Of course, unruly passenger behavior is not acceptable anywhere in the world. In fact, at some airports, they don’t wait for any physical altercation. The moment you raise your voice at an airline staff, you will not be allowed to board. And because of the actions of this passenger, the pilot has used her discretionary powers to say, you know, you’re not going to be allowed on this plane if you do not obey instructions. There are other law-abiding passengers who have already been boarded, and the flight has to leave on schedule, especially in a country where flight disruptions, you know, are a constant pain. And so the pilot made the decision not to board this unruly passenger and then to proceed with our flight. Of course, in anger, passenger has tried to stop the aircraft from taking off, which is in itself a very, very serious crime. How the passenger got to that point is down to, of course, unruly behavior because the security persons were very clear. You cannot board this flight without dropping the package in your hand. It’s a very unfortunate and avoidable incident. But at this point, you know, contrary to a lot of views on social media, it is no longer a case, it is not a case of this pilot has done this because this passenger has done this. Pilots have their trainings. It is a case of This passenger has done something clearly wrong. This pilot has done something clearly wrong as well. Now, the NCAA has the power to discipline the pilot, but the NCAA does not have prosecutorial powers with regards to the passenger. So the right thing both ways have been done. The license of the pilot has been seized on the one hand pending the outcome of investigations, and the NCA has petitioned the Attorney General of the Federation and the Inspector General of Police to prosecute the passenger. Meanwhile, The investigations are going to reveal how the passenger even got to that point in the first place. Did he come with water or the liquid from home? If he did, how did he pass through the first two scanning points before he got to the final boarding point? a lot of questions to be asked. And down the line, everybody that is found culpable will be duly punished. Of course, it is going to take a collaboration across agencies for these investigations to be conclusive. There’s FAN, AFSEC, that’s Evasion Security. There’s NAMA. air traffic control cleared the pilot to fly, seeing that there was danger, it was not safe for her to proceed. All of these questions will be answered during the course of the investigations. And one last thing, to clarify, because I see a lot of dissenting opinions online, the question was not whether the content of the flask was alcohol or water. The crux of the issue is no matter the content of the flask, you cannot carry liquid, be it fragrances or anything else, above 100 ml on board the flight.”
Achimugu emphasised that the NCAA’s immediate actions reflect the dual requirements of passenger safety and regulatory due process: the pilot’s licence was temporarily seized to allow a fair investigation into the pilot’s conduct, while the NCAA also requested criminal prosecution of the passenger to address alleged offences that may amount to attempts to interfere with or obstruct a flight.
He added that a multi-agency probe will seek to answer operational questions about checkpoints and screening procedures, including how the liquid passed earlier security points if it indeed originated from the passenger’s belongings. Achimugu said agencies such as airport security units, the airport authority, air navigation services and law enforcement will be involved to establish accountability and recommend corrective measures where necessary.
The incident has attracted significant attention online, with social media users sharing videos and commentaries. Achimugu urged the public to allow the formal investigations to proceed so that all facts are established, and appropriate disciplinary or prosecutorial steps taken based on evidence.
For publication: include the video excerpt of Achimugu’s remarks and any official tweets or posts from the airline and regulatory bodies for context and verification. Provide updates as the investigations progress and authoritative agencies release findings or statements.[/p>
Watch video below …[/p>
[/p>“During the conversation, this passenger splashed liquid on the uniform of the pilot…”[/p>
– Director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Mr. Michael Achimugu pic.twitter.com/4PRaZTDEqq[/p>
— @𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗷𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗯𝗼𝘆 (@OneJoblessBoy) August 10, 2025
Notes for editors: preserve all direct quotes verbatim when quoting Achimugu; attribute all actions — such as the seizure of the pilot’s licence or petitions to prosecuting authorities — to the NCAA as the official source of the statement; and avoid speculation about motives or outcomes until formal findings are published by investigating agencies.[/p>