Fuji star, KWAM 1 opens up on allegedly slaving his band members

Yoruba Fuji icon, Wasiu Ayinde, also known as KWAM or K1 De Ultimate, has responded to allegations made by some of his band members, including Ayankunle Ayanlowo, who accused him of mistreatment and likened their relationship to that of a master and a slave.

In an interview with GoldMyne TV on Sunday, K1 addressed the accusations, stating that Ayankunle and others were being mischievous and attempting to tarnish his reputation.

Ayankunle recounted his grievances, alleging mistreatment by KWAM1, including the confiscation of passports during travel and an incident where he was denied medical attention.

He expressed ongoing health concerns attributed to stress from his lengthy tenure with KWAM1 and vowed to hold the singer accountable for any adverse outcomes.

He explained that Ayankunle’s passport is currently held by the British High Commission due to these circumstances.

In response to the allegation, KWAM1 said:

“Ayankunle and two others ran away from the band in England with their passports. And we returned to Nigeria. That was in the 90s. After he ran away, information reaching us indicated that in the course of him overstaying, he gave his passport to someone to come and present it at the British embassy. As of that time, they were not stamping visas on passport leaflets. The person successfully had his details changed to his while he maintained Ayankunle’s passport.

“Ayankunle’s passport is at the British High Commission. This is someone who can barely read or write, and I facilitated a passport for him. I’m not the one who collected his passport. He has run away with it. How come the same passport is with me?” KWAM 1 queried.

The Fuji maestro further said:

“Is it possible for them to return to Nigeria without their passports? Of course, they all have their passports. If I had withheld their passports, Immigration or Customs would have questioned what I was doing with such a number of passports.

“When I saw that their problems were becoming too much for me, I disbanded them and then regrouped again with new members. After them, another set of people has run away. It’s a common thing with band members.”

Speaking on the allegation of staff slaving, KWAM1 said:

“I never treated anyone unjustly, adding that he has always paid listening hears to them.

He gave an example of one of his band members who complained that his house was being put up for demolition in Oyo State and how he pacified him that he would do something for him with the help of the team member too to salvage the situation.

“I told him that only his house cannot be put up for demolition. Although I could easily ask Governor Seyi Makinde but he was sure that many houses would have been marked too for the benefits of the residents of the state. So it was easier to just help him with whatever he could provide and the support of others,” he maintained.