Human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) has accused the Federal Government of undermining the rule of law in its handling of allegations against Fuji legend Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, popularly known as KWAM 1, over his reported unruly conduct at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

Falana, in a statement on Wednesday, said that serious criminal complaints were lodged against the musician — including claims that he poured the contents of a flask on a pilot, a security officer, and some passengers. While the Inspector-General of Police had commenced an investigation, Falana noted that the process was abruptly halted when the government hastily accepted KWAM 1’s apology and granted him a pardon.

He condemned the decision to consider the musician as an “ambassador” for airport security protocols despite the pending allegations, warning that such preferential treatment “sets a dangerous precedent” and strips the government of the moral authority to prosecute future cases of airport misconduct.

Falana also compared the incident to the dropped charges against Comfort Emmanson, accused of disorderly conduct on an Ibom Air flight, suggesting that both cases now highlight “a pattern of selective justice.”

Quoting the constitutional principle of equality before the law, Falana said:

“Since citizens have equal rights, obligations, and opportunities before the law, the Federal Government will henceforth be accused of discriminatory treatment on the ground that KWAM 1 was ‘pardoned’ without any criminal trial whatsoever.”

The Federal Government has not yet issued a public response to Falana’s remarks.