The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has provided clarification on why Nigerian Fuji musician Wasiu Ayinde, popularly known as K1 de Ultimate (Kwam1), was not charged to court for alleged unruly behavior, unlike Ibom Air passenger Comfort Emmanson who was recently remanded in prison.

NCAA spokesperson Michael Achimugu explained in an interview on Monday that the difference in handling both cases stems from the actions taken by the respective airlines involved, not the aviation authority itself.

"There's nothing to put together here. The Ibom Air passenger was arrested and charged to court by the airline," Achimugu stated. "The airline has exercised its right to sue the unruly passenger in court. So long as that case is in court, the NCAA has no role to play in it."

He further explained that in Kwam1's case, ValueJet did not take legal action against the musician. "But in the Kwam1 case, since the airline did not sue or take the passenger to court, the NCAA, which also does not have prosecutorial powers, decided to do the right thing by criminally referring the case to the Attorney General and Inspector General of Police," he clarified.

The spokesperson emphasized that had ValueJet arrested and taken Kwam1 to court immediately after the incident, the NCAA would not have become involved to the extent it did. Conversely, Ibom Air immediately arrested Emmanson and initiated legal proceedings against her.

"We did not sue Kwam1; we did not sue this lady," Achimugu reiterated, highlighting that the NCAA's role is regulatory rather than prosecutorial.

The clarification comes amid public discourse about perceived double standards in handling both cases. Former presidential candidate Peter Obi had described Emmanson's treatment as demonstrating "double standards" in Nigeria's aviation sector.

BenriNews reports that the NCAA had previously petitioned the Attorney General of the Federation and the Inspector General of Police to prosecute Kwam1 over his alleged misconduct at a Nigerian airport. Meanwhile, the Airlines Operators of Nigeria (AON) has banned Comfort Emmanson indefinitely from both local and international flights following the incident.

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