Senator Adams Oshiomhole, representing Edo North, has refuted claims by Air Peace that he disrupted the airline’s operations after missing a flight. Instead, he alleges that the airline engages in extortion and arbitrary policy changes that unfairly affect passengers.
Air Peace had earlier stated that Oshiomhole arrived late for a scheduled flight from Lagos to Abuja, missing the airline’s check-in deadline. However, addressing journalists in Abuja, Oshiomhole insisted that he arrived 40 minutes before departure, met all check-in requirements, and was still denied boarding.
The senator described how, despite holding a business class ticket, he was turned away while other passengers arriving later were allowed to board. He claimed that he was forced to spend ₦1.5 million on hotel accommodation for himself and two stranded Ghanaian passengers.
Oshiomhole further alleged that Air Peace staff routinely deny boarding to passengers with online bookings, only to resell tickets at inflated prices. He cited an instance where a woman who purchased a ticket for ₦146,000 was denied boarding and later asked to buy another ticket for ₦250,000.
Rejecting accusations that he caused a scene, Oshiomhole stated that he refused VIP privileges and stood in solidarity with stranded passengers. “They offered to help me once they recognized me, but I refused. I told them to enforce my rights like every other Nigerian,” he said.
The senator criticized Nigeria’s aviation sector for what he called “VIP impunity,” where elites receive preferential treatment while ordinary citizens suffer. He vowed to continue speaking out against such practices.
Air Peace has yet to respond to Oshiomhole’s latest remarks.
