The National President of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo, has pleaded with President Bola Tinubu to forgive the Fuji music legend Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, known as Kwam 1, over alleged breaches of aviation regulations and disrupted airline operations.

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria alleged the 68-year-old musician committed the offence while boarding ValueJet Airlines’ morning service (Flight VK 201) to Lagos.

According to a statement signed by FAAN’s spokesperson, Obiageli Orah, Kwam 1 was said to have allegedly brought alcohol on board, a practice prohibited on domestic flights in Nigeria. This led to an altercation with a flight attendant.

The NCAA and the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, swiftly intervened and placed Ayinde on a six-month no-fly list for all domestic and international flights while investigations continue.

Reacting to the matter in a statement posted on his Instagram page on Monday, MC Oluomo appealed for mercy and leniency on behalf of Kwam 1 and others involved.

MC Oluomo’s statement partly read: “To His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. I, Alhaji Musiliu Ayinde Akinsanya, President of the National Union of Road Transport Workers of Nigeria (NURTW), humbly and fervently appeal to you to exercise mercy and forgiveness towards Alhaji Wasiu Ayinde Marshal (K1). Like a prodigal son, K1 has acknowledged his mistakes, is sincerely apologetic, and is willing to make amends.

“I respectfully and earnestly request that the Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Capt. Chris Najomo, and the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Barrister Festus Keyamo, SAN, consider tempering justice with mercy by lifting the ban imposed on K1 and the pilot, Oluranti Ogoyi, following the incident at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport’s local wing in Abuja.”

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The Nigerian Air Force, under Operation Fasan Yamma, has neutralised several armed bandits in Zamfara State during a coordinated air and ground assault on Makakkari Forest.

The Director of Public Relations and Information, Ehimen Ejodame, in a statement on Monday, said Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance had confirmed movements of over 400 bandits planning to invade a farming community.

According to him, the operation on Sunday involved precision airstrikes and ground assaults, killing several notorious kingpins and scores of their fighters.

Ejodame said the synergy between the air and land components made the operation exceptional.

The statement read, “The Nigerian Air Force under Operation FASAN YAMMA, on 10 August 2025, recorded another major victory against armed bandits in Zamfara State, neutralising several terrorists in a coordinated air and ground assault on Makakkari Forest.

” Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance had confirmed movements of over 400 bandits, planning to invade a farming community.

“The operation involved precision airstrikes and ground assaults, resulting in the deaths of several notorious kingpins and scores of their foot soldiers.

“The synergy between air and land components made the operation exceptional.”

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The Umuahia Capital Development Authority, acting under the directive of the Abia State Government, has commenced the demolition of buildings within the former Umuahia market, popularly known as Ogwumabiri, stating that the structures were built without government authorisation.

A statement released by the General Manager of UCDA, Mr Kingsley Agomoh, on Monday said the demolition is part of a broader vision to transform Umuahia into a modern, world-class capital city.

He said the former market space was allocated to a private investor by the previous administration for the purpose of building an event centre on a build, operate, and transfer arrangement.

The statement read, “In line with the Abia State Government’s vision to transform Umuahia into a modern city and a befitting capital, the Umuahia Capital Development Authority (UCDA) has commenced the demolition of unauthorised residential structures built within the former Umuahia market premises without government approval.

“The former market space was allocated to a private investor by the previous administration to build an Event Centre on a Build, Operate, and Transfer (BOT) basis.

“However, the investor unilaterally repurposed the space and started developing residential duplexes and apartments, contrary to the government’s planned purpose for the space.”

Agomoh explained that the Abia State Government has been engaging the investor for the past one year and has offered a negotiated ex-gratia settlement that involves taking over the space for the building of a modern transportation hub that would integrate a bus terminal, a train station, and intercity shuttles.

“As a responsible and business-friendly administration, the government has been engaging the investor for the past year and has offered a negotiated ex gratia settlement to the investor.

“The government has taken over the space to repurpose it as part of a modern transportation hub, integrating the bus terminal, train station, and intercity shuttle connection point. The structures demolished were deemed unfit for the established purpose of overriding public interest.

“The UCDA is committed to ensuring that the new transportation hub enhances the city’s infrastructure, promotes efficient mobility, and contributes to the overall economic growth of Umuahia as a modern capital city,” the statement added.

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