The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, demanding a public apology to airport officials and payment of a ₦25,000 fine over an alleged violation of parking regulations at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
In a statement released on Friday, Keyamo said an internal investigation, supported by CCTV footage, showed that Obi’s claims of political persecution following the clamping of his vehicle were unfounded.
According to the minister, the incident occurred on July 4 when Obi arrived at the airport’s domestic terminal at approximately 8:28 p.m.
He explained that after Obi alighted from the vehicle, his police driver left the car unattended in a designated drop-off area and proceeded into the terminal, contrary to airport regulations.
Keyamo stated that although the driver briefly returned to the vehicle, he abandoned it again, prompting airport security personnel to clamp its tyres in line with established procedures.
He maintained that officials enforcing the regulations were unaware that the vehicle belonged to the former Anambra State governor.
The minister further disclosed that after discovering the vehicle had been clamped, the driver contacted Obi, who subsequently spoke with the airport manager and requested that the vehicle be released.
According to Keyamo, airport authorities released the vehicle without collecting the prescribed ₦25,000 penalty.
He stressed that leaving a vehicle unattended in a restricted airport zone for about 30 minutes constituted a serious security risk and violated internationally accepted aviation safety standards.
The minister accused Obi of attempting to politicise a routine enforcement action by portraying it as targeted persecution, insisting that the matter had already been resolved before the former governor made it public.
Keyamo called on Obi to tender an unreserved public apology to airport personnel, whom he described as officials carrying out their lawful responsibilities, and to voluntarily pay the outstanding parking fine.
He warned that should Obi fail to comply within seven days, he would direct the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to take appropriate action in accordance with the law.
