The feud between two-time governor of Edo State and former APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomole has degenerated into name calling and counter accusations. Whilst Airpeace claimed that Oshiomole was lying and defaming them, Oshiomole accused Airpeace of extortion.
In a statement release by Airpeace after the incident, Air Peace specifically called the senator a blatant liar and spreading deliberate falsehood. The statement reads in part: The statement reads: “Our attention has been drawn to the deliberate falsehood being peddled by Senator Adams Oshiomole against Air Peace. “The Senator lied blatantly when he accused Air Peace of extorting its passengers. We challenge Senator Oshiomole to bring one piece of evidence of a passenger who was extorted.
“None of our staff ever extorted any passengers. No ticket was sold after the closure of check-in on that flight. Everyone who flew bought their ticket before the flight closure. “Again, our flight was never overbooked as some of his videos alleged. The aircraft took off with over thirty (30) empty seats. It would have been in our interest to carry Oshiomhole and those others who missed their flights for lateness on this flight, instead of flying many empty seats; but we will never sacrifice our strict on-time performance for monetary gains.
“It’s absolutely false that he was offered preferential treatment and that he was fighting for others. Senator Oshiomole was not fighting for anyone. He came to the airport late and was told that he was late.
Senator Adams Oshiomhole, who represents Edo was denied boarding on the Lagos-Abuja flight operated by Air Peace at the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal 1 (Zulu Hall) on Wednesday morning.
Speaking to Vanguard after footage of the incident went viral, Oshiomhole claimed that the chaos stemmed from the airline’s refusal to allow him and other passengers board a scheduled flight to Abuja, despite having completed online check-in procedures.
He alleged that Air Peace denied entry to several confirmed passengers and instead resold the seats at inflated prices to standby travellers.
“It wasn’t just about me. Other passengers were left stranded too. We had checked in online, yet we were stopped from boarding for reasons that were never clearly explained,” he said.
According to the senator, the situation quickly escalated after he confronted airline staff over what he described as “exploitative” and “disrespectful” practices.
The confrontation drew attention at the terminal and briefly disrupted boarding operations.
Air Peace, in an earlier statement, maintained that Oshiomhole had arrived after the flight’s boarding gate had closed and denied allegations of misconduct.
Senator Adams Oshiomole
Oshiomhole said: “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.”
A heated confrontation involving Senator Adams Oshiomhole and staff of Air Peace caused a brief disruption at the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal 1 (Zulu Hall) on Wednesday morning.
The incident, which occurred around 6:10 a.m., unfolded as the Edo North senator arrived at the terminal for a scheduled 6:30 a.m. flight to Abuja.
According to witnesses, Oshiomhole insisted on being allowed to board, citing a completed online check-in.
However, Air Peace, in an official statement later that day, stated that boarding for the flight had already closed by the time the senator arrived, and the aircraft had departed as scheduled.
The airline further alleged that the situation escalated when Senator Oshiomhole was informed he had missed the flight. He reportedly became aggressive, assaulted airline staff, and temporarily blocked the terminal entrance, disrupting access for other passengers.
While no injuries were reported, the altercation caused a temporary halt in operations at the terminal.
“Upon being informed of the missed flight, the politician resorted to violence, physically assaulting our staff and forcefully barricading the terminal’s entrance.
However, it is urgent that we called for the footage to ascertain the true situation.
