Actor Patrick Doyle has weighed in on the recent controversy involving Fuji singer Wasiu Ayinde, popularly known as K1 De Ultimate and airline officials at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
In a social media post on Thursday, the 64-years-old shared a personal account of how some airline staff allegedly target celebrities, expressing empathy with the singer over his ordeal with the crew of ValueJet.
“Kwam 1 was baited by the airline staff, and sadly, they succeeded in riling him. I can’t say I blame him because I have been known to go ballistic during such episodes myself,” he wrote.
Patrick said he had experienced similar treatment, particularly at the Asaba airport where a female staff member refused to allow him board with his hand luggage, which was slightly over the weight limit.
“I tried to cajole her, and rather than give in, she rudely barked at me to respect myself,” he recounted, adding that the staff’s colleague had previously taken a selfie with him while he was in the queue, suggesting she knew who he was.
According to the actor, while public figures often enjoy preferential treatment in public spaces, some airport workers appear to deliberately provoke celebrities.
He concluded his post with a prayer for self-control in such situations, “These days, I just pray that God should keep such irritants far away from me… and the grace not to fall into their diabolical traps.”
Meanwhile, K1 De Ultimate has maintained his innocence in the incident, which occurred on Tuesday and has since drawn widespread media attention.
The singer, in a statement issued by his media aide Kunle Rasheed on Wednesday, said allegations that he attempted to board the flight with alcohol and splashed it on an aviation officer were “exaggerated and misleading.”
According to him, the liquid in question was plain water and he never behaved in a way that endangered anyone’s safety. He claimed the ValueJet chairman and managing director personally apologised to him and even offered to provide a private jet to fly him to Lagos, which he declined.
“Despite persistent persuasion from the airline’s top executives, K1 graciously declined the offer,” the statement read.
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has since suspended two ValueJet pilots for attempting to take off without proper clearance, while the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) is continuing investigations.
K1 urged the public to avoid sensationalising the matter, insisting that he remains a law-abiding citizen cooperating fully with authorities.
