Keyamo Gives Peter Obi Seven Days to Apologise, Pay N25,000 Airport Fine Over Clamped Vehicle

• Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo has given Peter Obi a seven-day ultimatum to apologise to airport officials and pay a N25,000 parking fine, insisting CCTV footage disproves the former presidential candidate’s claim that his vehicle was clamped for political reasons.

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 parking fine over the clamping of his vehicle at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

In a statement issued on Friday, Keyamo said an internal investigation backed by CCTV footage contradicted Obi’s recent claim that his vehicle was unjustly clamped as an act of political persecution.

According to the minister, the incident occurred on July 4 when Obi arrived at the airport’s domestic terminal at about 8:28 p.m.

Keyamo alleged that after Obi exited the vehicle, his police driver parked in a designated drop-off zone, left the vehicle unattended and entered the terminal, contrary to airport regulations.

He said the driver briefly returned to the vehicle before leaving it unattended again, prompting airport security officials to clamp its tyres.

The minister maintained that airport personnel had no knowledge the vehicle belonged to Obi when the enforcement action was carried out.

According to Keyamo, after discovering the vehicle had been clamped, Obi’s driver contacted the former presidential candidate, who subsequently spoke with the airport manager and requested that the vehicle be released.

He said the vehicle was eventually released without payment of the prescribed N25,000 penalty.

Keyamo argued that leaving a vehicle unattended in a restricted airport zone for about 30 minutes constituted a serious security risk and violated international aviation safety standards.

The minister also accused Obi of attempting to gain political sympathy by portraying the enforcement action as persecution, insisting that the issue had already been resolved before Obi publicly alleged unfair treatment.

He demanded that Obi issue an unreserved public apology to airport workers, whom he said were simply carrying out their lawful duties, and voluntarily return to pay the parking fine.

Keyamo warned that if Obi fails to comply within seven days, he will direct the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to take further action.