Suspended ValueJet Airlines pilot, Capt. Oluranti Ogoyi, has provided an extensive and more elaborate account of her confrontation with Fuji music legend King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, popularly known as K1 De Ultimate, which occurred at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja. The incident, which took place during preparations for flight VK201 from Abuja to Lagos, has since drawn significant public attention due to the reputations of those involved and the disciplinary measures that followed.
In addition to the suspension of Capt. Ogoyi and her co-pilot, Flight Officer Ivan Oloba, by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) for safety regulation violations, the musician K1 De Ultimate has also been banned from flying within Nigeria for a period of six months as part of the regulatory response.
According to the pilot's written statement, cited by The Will, the sequence of events began when boarding for flight VK201 commenced at 8:10 am. It was during this boarding process that K1 approached the aircraft carrying a gold-colored flask containing a substance that was not immediately identified. Ground handling staff, adhering to standard safety and security protocols, politely requested to verify the contents of the flask before allowing it onboard. However, K1 reportedly refused to comply with this request. Witnesses observed him drinking from the flask, and staff suspected it contained alcohol—a substance prohibited for consumption onboard aircraft in Nigeria without proper clearance.
The statement alleges that the musician reacted dismissively to the request, reportedly saying, “Do you know who I am? You have no right to tell me to open my flask.” This refusal created a tense situation at the aircraft entrance, prompting security personnel stationed at the boarding gate to repeat the instruction for verification. Rather than cooperating, K1 allegedly became more confrontational, causing the boarding process to come to an abrupt halt.
To defuse the escalating tension, Capt. Ogoyi stated that she stepped out of the cockpit to personally engage with K1 in a calm and professional manner. However, according to her account, the situation worsened unexpectedly when the musician, without warning, poured the contents of his flask over her, over security staff, and even onto several nearby passengers. This act prompted immediate intervention by airport security personnel.
Following this incident, the Head of Security advised that K1 should not be permitted to board the aircraft for the safety and comfort of all passengers and crew members. Capt. Ogoyi agreed with this recommendation, emphasizing that allowing him onboard could compromise safety regulations and disrupt the flight. The altercation, she said, had already caused delays and created an atmosphere of distress among passengers.
Once the aircraft doors were closed, Capt. Ogoyi reported seeing Mr. Ayinde still standing in close proximity to the aircraft, which obstructed its movement on the tarmac. She made a public announcement to passengers, explaining the reason for the delay, while ground security worked to remove him from the area. Only after he was no longer within sight did she commence taxiing procedures, eventually departing for Lagos at approximately 8:50 am—around 40 minutes later than scheduled.
The incident has since raised discussions about the conduct of public figures during travel, enforcement of aviation safety protocols, and the responsibilities of crew members in handling disruptive passengers under Nigerian aviation law.