The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has given the Nigeria Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Peter Obi, a seven-day ultimatum to publicly apologise to airport officials and pay a N25,000 fine for allegedly violating parking regulations at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
In a statement issued on Friday, Keyamo said an internal investigation, backed by CCTV footage from the airport, contradicted Obi’s recent claim that his vehicle was unjustly clamped as part of political persecution.
According to the minister, the incident occurred on July 4 when Obi arrived at the airport’s domestic terminal at about 8:28pm.
He alleged that after Obi alighted from the vehicle, his police driver parked in a designated drop-off zone, left the vehicle unattended and entered the terminal, contrary to airport regulations.
Keyamo said the driver briefly returned to the vehicle before leaving it unattended again, prompting airport security personnel to clamp its tyres.
He maintained that airport officials had no knowledge the vehicle belonged to Obi when they carried out the enforcement action.
The minister further alleged that when the driver discovered the vehicle had been clamped, he contacted Obi, who then spoke with the airport manager and requested the vehicle’s release.
According to Keyamo, the vehicle was released without payment of the prescribed N25,000 penalty.
He said leaving a vehicle unattended in a restricted airport zone for about 30 minutes posed a significant security risk and violated global aviation safety standards.
Keyamo accused Obi of attempting to gain political sympathy by portraying the enforcement action as persecution.
He argued that the matter had already been resolved before Obi made public comments alleging unfair treatment.
The minister demanded that Obi issue an unreserved public apology to airport workers, whom he said were merely carrying out their lawful duties, and voluntarily return to pay the parking fine.
Keyamo warned that if Obi failed to comply within one week, he would direct the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria to take further action.
By Daniel Ayantoye
