Nigeria’s flagship carrier, Air Peace, has issued a scathing rebuttal to allegations made by Senator Adams Oshiomhole, describing the claims as “blatant falsehoods” and challenging the lawmaker to provide evidence of misconduct.
The controversy stems from an incident on Wednesday at the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal 1, where the former Edo State Governor reportedly disrupted flight operations after missing his scheduled flight to Abuja.
In an earlier account, Senator Oshiomhole, who represents Edo North Senatorial District, accused Air Peace of denying him and other passengers boarding access despite completing online check-in. He further alleged that the airline’s staff were reselling tickets at inflated prices to last-minute buyers.
Responding late Wednesday via an official statement, Air Peace categorically denied the allegations, labelling them as “deliberate falsehoods.” The airline insisted that all passengers on the flight had completed their ticket purchases before the closure of check-in and asserted that no extortion took place.
“The Senator lied blatantly when he accused Air Peace of extorting passengers,” the statement read. “We challenge Senator Oshiomhole to present a single instance—or individual—who was extorted by our staff.”
The airline also dismissed claims of overbooking, revealing that the aircraft in question departed Lagos with over 30 empty seats.
“Contrary to his assertions, the flight was not overbooked. It would have been commercially beneficial for us to accommodate the senator and other latecomers. However, our commitment to strict on-time performance outweighs any financial considerations.”
Air Peace further accused Senator Oshiomhole of inciting unrest at the terminal, stating he engaged in disruptive behaviour by jumping on the baggage conveyor belt and blocking the entrance to the terminal.
“He was not advocating for other passengers, as claimed. He arrived late and, upon being informed of this, proceeded to create a scene. He instigated other passengers, obstructed check-in processes, and attempted to force his way through.”
The airline has called on the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to release CCTV footage to corroborate its account of the incident.
> “We urge FAAN to make public the surveillance footage showing Senator Oshiomhole’s conduct upon arrival. His actions were not only defamatory but also aggressive, irresponsible, and unbecoming of a public officeholder.”
The confrontation has ignited public discourse on airport decorum and passenger responsibility, with stakeholders awaiting further developments.
