A few days after Fuji star, Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, popularly known as KWAM 1 was accused of unruly conduct at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, the Federal Government has revealed plans to engage him as an ambassador for proper airport security protocol.
Festus Keyamo, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday.
According to Keyamo, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN will now work ”
with the “music star with a view to engaging him as an ambassador for proper airport security protocol going forward”.
In the statement, the Minister revealed that the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA has resolved to reduce the musician’s flight ban from six to one month.
Recalls that the musician was recently accused of carrying a flask containing alcohol at the airport.
According to reports, the artiste was spilling the liquid content personnel, and later walking onto the aircraft’s tarmac, allegedly blocking the plane from taxiing.
He had since apologized to the authorities, promising that he would not portray such an attitude again.
The wanton killings of unsuspecting Benue State citizens have continued unabated as the daredevil terrorists continue their attacks.
In recent days, some communities in the Guma Local Government Area of the state have been consistently attacked by the assailants, leading to lost of lives.
Nigerian News Sphere reports that the latest attacks were carried out in Uikpam and Mbabai communities in Guma Local Government Area LGA of the state when the assailants invaded the areas.
It was gathered on Wednesday morning that one Francis Nomsoor and another victim identified simply as Kelvin lost their lives in the unfortunate attacks.
Kevin, who was until his death, a patent medicine seller was reportedly shot right in his shop and was being conveyed to Daudu for medical attention before he gave up the ghost.
While Francis Nomsoor’s body was reportedly recovered by security agents after the attackers had left the scene.
The state has over a few years suffered unprovoked attacks from the suspected herders.
Several Benue indegenes have been killed while millions are displaced.
Sources told Nigerian News Sphere that security operatives were hitherto deployed to the affected communities prior to the latest attacks but were withdrawn.
The Nigerian government, through the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo has directed Ibom Air, and the police to withdraw the criminal case against passenger Comfort Emmasson.
It also announced that the flight ban imposed on Fuji legend Wasiu Ayinde Marshall, popularly known as KWAM 1, has been reduced to one month by the NCAA.
KWAM 1 has initially been handed a six-month ban following his unruly behaviour on a ValueJet flight.
Fuji musician Wasiu Ayinde Marshal
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Keyamo, in a statement on Wednesday morning through its X account.
Full statement:
PRESS STATEMENT: DECISION TO WITHDRAW CRIMINAL COMPLAINT AGAINST MS. COMFORT EMMANSON AND TO ADDRESS RELATED MATTERS
1. In the last 48 hours, I have been in consultation with critical stakeholders in the aviation sector and those involved in the unfortunate incidents regarding the unruly behaviours of certain individuals at our airports of late.
2. Though regrettable, we think valuable lessons have been learned by all sides to these incidents, and airport security protocols, especially, have been well highlighted for the travelling public. If nothing else at all, the episodes have undoubtedly helped to raise public awareness about appropriate conduct within the aviation space.
3. As highlighted in my previous statements on the last two incidents, clear wrongs were committed by both the offending passengers and staff of the airlines involved from all the evidence available to us and that available to the public. It is clear that all the actors involved cannot continue to highlight the injury or injustice done to them without acknowledging their own equal culpability.
5. Therefore, after reviewing the entire incident, including appeals made by well-meaning individuals and remorse shown by the actors, the following decisions have been reached:
THE CASE OF IBOM AIRLINE AND MS. COMFORT EMMANSON
(a) In the case of the unruly passenger, Ms. Comfort Emmanson, on the Ibom Airline on Sunday, the 10th of August, 2025, I have conferred with Ibom Airline to withdraw the complaint against her today. When the police took her statement in the presence of her lawyer, she exhibited great remorse for her conduct.
(b) Subsequent to the withdrawal of the complaint by the complainant, the CP of Airport Command and the police prosecutor will immediately take the remaining steps to facilitate her release from Kirikiri Prisons within this week.
(c) I have also conferred with the leadership of the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) and have appealed to them to lift the lifetime flying ban imposed on her, to which they agreed. The details of the resolution will be made public by the AON subsequently.
THE CASE OF VALUJET AND WASIU AYINDE MARSHALL (KWAM 1)
(d) In the case of KWAM 1, the NCAA is to reduce his flight ban to a one-month period. FAAN will also work with the music star with a view to engaging him as an ambassador for proper airport security protocol going forward.
(e) Having publicly demonstrated penitence, the NCAA is also to withdraw its criminal complaints against KWAM 1 earlier lodged with the police.
(f) In the case of Captain Oluranti Ogoyi and the co-pilot, First Officer Ivan Oloba of VALUEJET, the NCAA is to restore their licences after the same period of one-month ban after undergoing some mandatory professional reappraisal. The details will be announced by the NCAA.
AIRLINE OPERATORS, AVIATION, AND OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCIES
6. I have directed all relevant aviation agencies, in collaboration with other complementary agencies outside aviation, to IMMEDIATELY begin a retreat NEXT WEEK to properly retrain and prepare our aviation security personnel on how to deal with errant and disruptive passengers and how to deescalate potentially explosive situations. The retreat will be fully covered by the press with the opportunity to ask all the relevant questions.
7. The airlines will also have their own session when the conduct and attitude of their staff towards members of the travelling public will be in full focus.
FINAL COMMENTS
8. These above decisions were taken by the government and the airline operators purely on COMPASSIONATE grounds, as the government will never pander to base sentiments, politically motivated views, or warped legal opinions when clear encroachments of our laws are involved.
9. We are also sending a CLEAR MESSAGE that we take safety and security in the aviation sector very seriously, and we have decided to draw a line after these clemencies.
A man stands in front of a damaged and burnt house following a deadly gunmen attack in Yelwata, Benue State, Nigeria, June 16, 2025. REUTERS/Marvellous Durowaiye
Armed men suspected to be Fulani herdsmen causing mayhem in Benue State have again, attacked two villages, leading to rhe death is two persons.
Nigerian News Sphere reports that the attacks were carried out in Uikpam and Mbabai communities in Guma Local Government Area LGA of the state when the assailants invaded the areas.
Our correspondent gathered on Wednesday morning that one Francis Nomsoor and another victim identified simply as Kelvin lost their lives in the unfortunate attacks.
Kevin, a patent medicine seller was reportedly shot right in his shop and was being conveyed to Daudu for medical attention before he gave up the ghost.
While Francis Nomsoor’s body was reportedly recovered by security agents after the attackers had left the scene.
The state has over a few years suffered unprovoked attacks from the suspected herders.
Several Benue indegenes have been killed while millions are displaced from their ancestoral homes.
Good morning! Here are six top headlines from Nigerian Newspapers today;
1. An unspecified number of Boko Haram terrorists have been killed by troops of the North East Joint Task Force ‘Operation Hadin Kai’, OPHK, in a failed Improvised Explosive Device, IED, ambush along Maiduguri-Kareto- Damasak federal highway in Borno State. Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame said Air Marshal Abubakar, revealed this during a courtesy visit to Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State.
2. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has granted former Sokoto State governor, Aminu Tambuwal, administrative bail after questioning him over alleged financial misconduct. Tambuwal, who also served as Speaker of the House of Representatives, is accused of fraudulently withdrawing about N189 billion during his tenure as governor.
3. Tragedy struck in the Ipara area of Remo, Ogun State, when a N30,000 car race wager resulted in an accident that left five people, including three suspected Yahoo boys and two residents, dead. According to source, the suspected Yahoo boys had organised a car racing contest with a N30,000 wager for the winner before the incident happened.
4. The Ogun State Police Command has begun the prosecution of two men, Kadir Owolabi and Jamiu Yisa, after they were allegedly caught with three human skulls in the Ijebu area of the state. According to a statement by the command’s spokesperson, Omolola Odutola, Owolabi was intercepted while riding a motorcycle along the Ijebu Ode/Ibadan Expressway at the Refugees Camp Junction, Oru Ijebu.
5. Leadership of the Julius Abure faction of Labour Party has warned Independent National Electoral Commission against excluding the party’s logo in the August 16 by-election. National Publicity Secretary of the faction, Obiora Ifoh, gave the warning in a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja.
6. The Bauchi State Police Command has arrested no fewer than 48 students of the Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi, for allegedly blocking the Bauchi-Tafawa Balewa–Dass highway, burning tyres, hurling stones at motorists, and looting shops during a protest on Tuesday.
Former vice president, Atiku Abubakar has attributed the arrest of former Governor of Sokoto State, Senator Aminu Waziri Tambuwal to his membership of the opposition Coalition.
Tambuwal was on Monday arrested and quizzed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC over alleged fraudulent cash withdrawals to the tune of N189 billion.
Reacting, Atiku in a statement on Tuesday condemned the development, linking it to political vendetta by the President Bola Tinubu’s government.
According to Atiku, the only reason the EFCC detained Tambuwal, “is because he is a member of the opposition Coalition. It is a continuation of the Tinubu-led administration’s agenda to harrass, intimidate, and decimate the opposition.
“The reality unfolding before us today is that the Tinubu administration, as with other aspects, has objectified the fight against corruption as a political tool to coerce opposition leaders into the ruling party.
“We are living witnesses to a growing trend where the state and its operators have assumed the roles of a bully by making corruption and the fight against it a political agenda.
“Certainly, that is not the objective for which I worked hard during our administration to create the EFCC.
“It is as though today, anyone who associates with the opposition is a target for phantom corruption allegations and, it is as though, as soon as they are coerced into the political agenda of President Tinubu, their ‘sins’ are forgiven”.
“That, definitely, is not how to build institutions. That, certainly, is not how to fight the monster of corruption. Indeed, such tendencies provide the stimulant for corruption to thrive.
“We have seen how the EFCC has been used to empty opposition state governors into the ruling party, and the tea party is not about to end anytime soon.
“While the genuine fight against corruption is a matter that requires the total support of all Nigerians, the objectification of it as a political agenda should be roundly condemned by all in civil society spaces and friends of Nigeria in the international community.
“We have in recent times witnessed the use of anti-corruption agencies in coercing political leaders into the ruling party. Our assurance to Nigerians is that we would never succumb to this anti-democratic machinations of railroading our people into a one-party dictatorship”.
Galatasaray manager, Okan Buruk, has confirmed Victor Osimhen will play against Karagumruk on Friday, amid controversy surrounding the renaming of a mosque.
Osimhen was not included in the squad for the 3-0 win over Gaziantep on Saturday.
Buruk explained that the Super Eagles striker needed more time to regain full fitness.
The 26-year-old forward reported late for pre-season training due to the long-drawn negotiations for his transfer from Napoli.
Osimhen has also found himself embroiled in the issue only days after he returned to Turkey.
The Bulut Mosque in Konya was listed on Google Maps as ‘Victor Osimhen Mosque’, leading to outrage from worshippers.
A member of the community, Zeki Yaylacı, said: “It’s a shame to name a non-Muslim and make a mockery of it.
“We consider it an insult to Muslims, the mosque community, and mosques themselves.”
Osimhen was unlikely involved in the renaming of the mosque, as it appears to be the result of incorrect user edits on Google Maps.
Good morning! Here are five top headlines from Nigerian Newspapers today;
1. The presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, in the 2023 election, Mr Peter Obi, has said the rate of hunger and poverty in Nigeria was not just statistics but real. Obi, who said this in a post on his X handle yesterday, explained that the harsh reality was that millions of Nigerians were grappling with acute food shortages and multi-dimensional poverty at a scale never before seen in the country.
2. Female passenger, Comfort Bob, who allegedly assaulted Ibom Air’s crew and clashed with airport security at the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos, has been remanded at Kirikiri Maxi-mum Security prison in Lagos. The 26-year-old woman, on Monday, appeared before an Ikeja Magistrate’s Court sitting in Ogba, Lagos, for allegedly causing chaos aboard an Ibom Air flight shortly after it landed at Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal 2, Ikeja.
3. The Federal Government has begun the process of appointing five new permanent secretaries, three of whom will head newly established ministries. According to a memo from the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, the positions are open to qualified directors in the Federal Civil Service.
4. The Ogun State government on Monday, sealed off Asoludero Court, the Conference Hotels, and its annex in the Sagamu Government Reserved Area, belonging to the former governor and senator representing Ogun East Senatorial District at the National Assembly, Otunba Gbenga Daniel. The seal off followed a notice to quit issued to the management of the properties barely three days ago.
5. Shooting Stars assistant coach, Akin Olowokere, slumped and died on Monday morning. Olowokere is one of the coaches that were recently appointed by 3SC. The former Sunshine Stars player and coach went down while in action, attracting medical attention immediately.
