Falana blasts FG over KWAM 1 pardon
Falana blasts FG over KWAM 1 pardon
Human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) has criticised the Federal Government’s handling of allegations against Fuji music icon, Wasiu Ayinde Marshal — popularly known as KWAM 1.
This is as he warned that its actions have “fatally undermined” the rule of law in cases of unruly behaviour at airports.
In a statement on Wednesday, Falana accused authorities of shielding the musician from due process after serious criminal complaints were lodged against him over an incident at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
According to the statement, “One of the allegations being investigated is that the suspect opened his flask and poured its contents on a pilot, a security officer, and some passengers.”
The Inspector-General of Police’s office, Falana noted, had commenced investigations into the matter.
However, he said the process was abruptly short-circuited.
“Without allowing the police to conclude the investigation and possibly file charges against the suspect, the federal government has hastily accepted his apology and granted him pardon,” Falana declared.
In a move Falana described as “even more baffling,” the government reportedly intends to “engage the suspect as an ambassador for proper airport security protocol after the recent controversy.”
This move, the aviation minister, Festus Keyamo, had defended and explained its consequences.
The rights advocate argued that such preferential treatment sets a dangerous precedent.
“By this hypothetical action, the federal government has lost its moral right to arrest and prosecute any passenger who commits an offence at any of the nation’s airports,” Falana asserted.
He drew a pointed comparison to another case, in which charges against a passenger accused of disorderly conduct aboard an Ibom Air flight were dropped — allegedly to avoid accusations of double standards.
“For instance, the federal government decided to withdraw the charges filed against Ms. Comfort Emmanson… because of the refusal to charge KWAM 1 with appropriate criminal offences,” Falana stated.
Underscoring the constitutional principle of equality before the law, he warned: “Since citizens have equal rights, obligations, and opportunities before the law, the Federal Government will henceforth be accused of subjecting any unruly passenger to discriminatory treatment on the ground that KWAM 1 was ‘pardoned’ without any criminal trial whatsoever.”
Meanwhile, PUNCH Online reports that the Federal Government has yet to respond publicly to Falana’s criticisms.
