Lagos, Nigeria — Air Peace, one of Nigeria’s major airlines, has strongly denied accusations made by Senator Adams Oshiomhole, who claimed that the airline extorted passengers during a recent flight incident.
In a statement released by Air Peace management, the airline described Oshiomhole’s comments as “deliberate falsehood” and challenged him to present any evidence that passengers were extorted.
“We challenge Senator Oshiomhole to bring one evidence of a passenger that was extorted,” the airline said.
The airline further clarified that no tickets were sold after the check-in process had closed. According to Air Peace, everyone on the flight had already bought their tickets before check-in ended, and the flight left with over 30 empty seats — proving that the plane was not overbooked, contrary to what Oshiomhole had claimed in several videos circulating online.
Air Peace stated that it would have actually benefited financially by allowing Oshiomhole and other latecomers on board, but that would have meant compromising their strict on-time performance, which they refused to do.
What Really Happened?
According to the airline, Senator Oshiomhole arrived late for his flight. When told that check-in had already closed, he allegedly began causing a scene at the airport.
The airline claims he:
- Jumped on the baggage conveyor belt, disrupting the check-in process for other flights.
- Blocked the terminal gate, preventing other passengers from accessing the airport.
- Incited other passengers, causing more chaos.
Air Peace insists that Oshiomhole was not fighting for other passengers, as he claimed, but was simply upset about missing his own flight.
CCTV Footage Request
The airline has called on the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to release CCTV footage from the airport that day, starting from the moment the senator arrived, to show the public what really happened.
They described the senator’s behavior as violent, shameful, and unbecoming of a public leader, and warned that his accusations of extortion were defamatory.
This incident has stirred debate on social media, with many Nigerians calling for calm, transparency, and accountability from both public officials and private service providers.
