The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has given former Anambra State Governor and presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, a seven-day ultimatum to apologise to airport officials and pay a N25,000 fine over an alleged parking violation at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

Keyamo, in a statement issued on Friday, said an internal investigation supported by CCTV footage from the airport showed that Obi’s claim that his vehicle was unjustly clamped was inaccurate.

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.

He alleged that after Obi left the vehicle, his police driver parked in a designated drop-off area, abandoned the vehicle and entered the terminal, in violation of airport regulations.

Keyamo said the driver briefly returned but later left the vehicle unattended again, prompting airport security officials to clamp the tyres.

He maintained that the officials were unaware that the vehicle belonged to Obi when the enforcement action was carried out.

The minister further alleged that after the driver noticed the vehicle had been clamped, he contacted Obi, who subsequently spoke with the airport manager and requested its release.

According to Keyamo, the vehicle was released without the payment of the prescribed N25,000 penalty.

He described leaving an unattended vehicle in a restricted airport zone for about 30 minutes as a security risk and a breach of aviation safety standards.

Keyamo accused Obi of attempting to portray the incident as political persecution to gain public sympathy, insisting that the matter had been resolved before the former governor made public comments.

The minister demanded that Obi issue an unreserved apology to airport workers, whom he said were only performing their official duties, and voluntarily pay the outstanding fine.

He warned that failure to comply within seven days would compel him to direct the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, to take further action.