…Air Peace Refutes Oshiomhole’s Extortion Claim, Demands FAAN Release CCTV Footage
By Ayo Kehinde
Air Peace has debunked allegations by Senator Adams Oshiomhole, representing Edo North, that its staff extort passengers at the airport, describing the claims as false, defamatory, and shameful.
The Senator representing Edo North and former Governor of Edo State, has given insight into what transpired on Wednesday morning at Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal 1, Zulu Hall.
He narrated how passengers, including himself, were prevented from boarding an Air Peace flight to Abuja despite having checked in online.
Comrade Oshiomhole said the commotion at the domestic terminal was sparked by Air Peace’s decision to prevent passengers from boarding while allegedly reselling seats at inflated prices to others on the spot.
“I booked Air Peace… They delayed the flight for over five hours. In the end, they announced a cancellation. I had to get another ticket. Yesterday, I booked a flight for 6:30 a.m., which is their first flight today. I booked and asked them to check me in online, which I did, along with two other Ghanaians who met me in Lagos. We checked in online just to avoid the last-minute issues I’ve had with them a couple of times.
“I got there at about five minutes past six. They told me the counter was closed. I told them, ‘No, I’ve already checked in.’ I showed them the evidence of my online check-in. Even before then, they had asked if I had checked in, and I told them yes, and that I had no luggage. They looked at it but still said the gate had been closed. Meanwhile, I noticed they were still taking other people in.
“So I asked, ‘How can you close boarding for a 6:30 flight at 6:05? What is the purpose of online check-in, then?’ If I had to go through another check-in process, then what’s the point of checking in online?
“While speaking to them, I saw many men and women who had been there even before me, with similar experiences. Basically, they were selling tickets on the spot at higher prices. I’ll give you an example. A lady bought her ticket for N146,000 online. She arrived at the airport at 5:55 a.m. for the 6:30 a.m. flight, after the gatemen had delayed her.
“They told her she was late and that the counter had closed for check-in. She said that was impossible, as it wasn’t even 6:00 a.m. They told her she would be put on the next flight. She protested, saying, ‘Why? Put me on this flight.’ But they told her the flight was full and she would have to wait.
“Meanwhile, the airline was selling tickets on the spot for between N200,000 and N300,000. To take advantage of the situation, they discouraged those who had bought tickets online at lower rates and sold to people willing to pay more.
“I asked the manager, ‘What is this woman’s crime? She has a baby that’s no more than six months old. How can you refuse to board her when the aircraft is still on the ground and more people are buying tickets?’ You cannot continue like this. Tomorrow, everyone will blame the government. You have regulatory agencies, and they are all compromising. You cannot board people buying tickets on the spot and deny those who booked days ago or checked in online.
“By the time the DSS and Air Force personnel came to find out what happened, they intervened and offered to put the woman on the next flight—the same offer they had made to me earlier. But to board that next flight, they told her she would have to pay N109,100. This was in addition to the original N146,000 ticket, meaning she would spend about N256,000 for a one-hour flight to Abuja. There were many others in the same situation, and everyone was shouting at the airport.
“I said to the manager, ‘You must follow the rules.’ Many people were stranded, except those who could afford another ticket. I followed the woman to the counter and told her to do whatever they asked. Those of us who were also prevented from flying gathered there. Even when an officer offered me access to a lounge, people around said, ‘Comrade, please don’t leave—this is how they’ve been treating us.’
“I had to send that woman N500,000. That’s basically what happened. I told them this cannot be allowed. I checked in online and arrived on time. The aircraft hadn’t taken off. I’m not supposed to check in twice. The rowdiness arose because many people were denied boarding while tickets were being sold on the spot to others.”
In a strongly worded statement issued by its management on Wednesday, the airline challenged the former Edo State governor to provide evidence of any passenger being extorted and urged the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to release CCTV footage capturing his movements at the airport.
The statement read, “Our attention has been drawn to the deliberate falsehood being peddled by Senator Adams Oshiomhole against Air Peace.
“The Senator lied blatantly when he accused Air Peace of extorting its passengers. We challenge him to bring forward just one piece of evidence to support this serious allegation.”
The airline insisted that no staff member extorted any passenger and that all tickets for the flight in question had been purchased before the closure of check-in.
“No ticket was sold after check-in had closed. Moreover, the flight was not overbooked, as claimed in some of the Senator’s circulating videos. The aircraft actually departed with over 30 empty seats,” the statement continued.
Air Peace noted that it would have been in its financial interest to allow the late passengers, including Oshiomhole, to board, but said it prioritized its strict on-time performance policy over monetary gain.
“It is entirely untrue that Senator Oshiomhole was offered preferential treatment or that he was standing up for other passengers. He arrived late, was informed he had missed the flight, and then resorted to disruptive behavior,” the airline said.
According to Air Peace, the lawmaker jumped on a baggage conveyor belt, obstructed check-in operations, barricaded the terminal entrance, and incited other passengers against the airline’s staff.
“We are calling on FAAN to release the CCTV footage from the moment Senator Oshiomhole arrived at the airport. His extortion claim is defamatory, and his conduct was violent, disruptive, and utterly unbecoming of someone in his position,” the statement concluded.
Air Peace reaffirmed its commitment to professionalism, safety, and prompt service delivery, adding that no individual, regardless of status, is above the airline’s operational procedures.
