Popular fuji musician, Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, also known as Kwam 1, may face life imprisonment or a minimum of 10 years behind bars if the federal government applies the law without bias, a lawyer and writer, Abdul Mahmud has said.
Mahmud made the statement on Thursday, insisting that Kwam 1 should be charged for allegedly endangering the safety of the lives of people on an aircraft during a reported incident on an airport runway.
He described Ayinde’s action as a clear violation of Section 33 of the Civil Aviation Act, 2022, which deals with actions that compromise the safety of aircraft.
Mahmud said that the law must be upheld, regardless of the individual involved.
He warned against reducing the seriousness of the offence to mere airport bans, adding that the alleged conduct endangered not just a single aircraft, but also human lives and the integrity of Nigeria’s aviation safety framework.
According to Section 33 of the Civil Aviation Act, “A person commits an offence if he or she does any act or omission which endangers or is likely to endanger the safety of an aircraft in flight, taxiing, landing or taking off.”
He noted that aviation offences are treated as strict liability crimes, meaning that intention is irrelevant; the act itself is sufficient grounds for conviction.
He added that if found guilty, Kwam 1 should face the full weight of the law, calling for accountability and justice in line with legal provisions, not sentiments.
Mahmud said, “A drunken man, inflated by his own fantasy of influence, thought it wise to body-check an aircraft as it prepared to taxi. Not on a street. On a runway. And people are talking about a ban?
“This is not a moment for slap-on-the-wrist theatrics. It is a grave criminal offence. A violation of the Civil Aviation Act, 2022. The law isn’t ambiguous. Section 33 (Endangering Safety) states plainly: ‘A person commits an offence if he or she does any act or omission which endangers or is likely to endanger the safety of an aircraft in flight, taxiing, landing or taking off.’
“This is exactly what happened: An act that endangered not just an aircraft, but lives, order, and the integrity of our aviation system. For that, the law prescribes life imprisonment or not less than 10 years behind bars.
“By the way, aviation offences are strict liability. Intent is not the shield here. The mere act is enough to ground a conviction. So, no, this isn’t about banning someone from the airport lounge. It’s about accountability, deterrence, and the rule of law.
“Kwam 1, that indeed is the name making the rounds, should be charged. If found guilty, he should face the full weight of the law. No ifs. No buts.”
