Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Femi Falana has criticised the Nigerian Government for its handling of the case against Fuji star Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, popularly known as KWAM 1, following his recent conduct at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
Falana argued that by hastily accepting KWAM 1’s apology and granting him a pardon before police investigations were concluded, the government had forfeited the moral authority to prosecute any unruly passenger at the nation’s airports.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Falana alleged that the decision to withdraw charges against Ibom Air passenger Comfort Emmanson stemmed from the government’s refusal to prosecute KWAM 1 for the alleged offences.
He noted that the Inspector-General of Police had begun investigating claims that KWAM 1 poured the contents of a flask on a pilot, a security officer, and passengers. However, before the investigation could be completed, the government not only pardoned him but also announced plans to appoint him as an ambassador for airport security protocol.
Falana warned that such preferential treatment undermined the principle of equality before the law. “Since citizens have equal rights, obligations, and opportunities, the Nigerian Government will now be accused of discriminatory treatment on the basis that KWAM 1 was ‘pardoned’ without any criminal trial,” he said.