Veteran Nollywood actor Patrick Doyle has weighed in on the heated controversy involving Fuji icon, Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, popularly known as KWAM 1, and ValueJet staff at the airport, describing the altercation as a “classic bait” which the singer regrettably fell for.
The drama unfolded on Tuesday, August 6, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja when KWAM 1 attempted to board ValueJet Flight VK201 bound for Lagos. A dispute arose after the airline’s ground staff requested to inspect a gold flask in the singer’s possession — an item suspected to contain prohibited alcoholic content.
KWAM 1 reportedly declined the request, citing personal privacy, which led to a back-and-forth with the crew. The situation escalated when the pilot, sensing commotion, moved the aircraft away from the boarding area, causing delays and prompting the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to launch an immediate investigation into the incident.
Reacting to the development via his official Facebook page, Patrick Doyle shared his personal encounters with overzealous service personnel in the aviation sector. He recounted an incident in Asaba where he was humiliated at the check-in counter for carrying hand luggage just 0.5 kg above the limit, despite being recognised as a public figure.
Doyle suggested that some airport staff deliberately target celebrities to provoke them into overreacting. “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.
He emphasized that such incidents are often fueled by personal grievances or an unconscious desire by staff to “cut celebrities down to size.” According to Doyle, the best response is emotional restraint, warning that any misstep by public figures quickly becomes ammunition for public humiliation.
The actor concluded by advising fellow celebrities to be alert to such setups, adding: “I just pray that God should keep such irritants far away from me, and whenever I encounter such ‘blessed’ people, I pray for self-control and the grace not to fall into their diabolical traps.”
