Senator Adams Oshiomhole has given his side of the story after a viral video showed him in a heated exchange with Air Peace staff at Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal 1 in Lagos on Wednesday.
The former Edo State governor said the incident on Tuesday began when he and two other passengers were denied boarding despite having checked in online for a 6:30 a.m. flight to Abuja.
“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,” he explained.
Oshiomhole said he arrived at the airport shortly after 6:00 a.m. and was told boarding had closed, even though other passengers were still being allowed in.
“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… Meanwhile, I noticed they were still taking other people in,” he said.
He alleged that the airline was denying boarding to those who had checked in earlier while selling tickets at inflated prices to latecomers.
“A lady bought her ticket for N146,000 online. She arrived at the airport at 5:55 a.m.… They told her she was late… They offered to put her on the next flight, but only if she paid N109,100—on top of her original ticket. That’s about N256,000 for a one-hour flight to Abuja,” he said.
The senator described the practice as “selling tickets on the spot at higher prices” and said it was unfair to passengers who planned ahead.
“You cannot board people buying tickets on the spot and deny those who booked days ago or checked in online,” he added.
Oshiomhole also said he offered financial help to one stranded mother.
“I had to send that woman N500,000. That’s basically what happened,” he said.
He insisted he did not disrupt airport operations, as claimed by the airline, but stood up for the rights of passengers being treated unfairly.
“I didn’t disrupt anything. I refused to let them ‘sort me out’ while others were left stranded… If speaking out makes me a troublemaker, then I’ll cause trouble forever,” he said.
Air Peace, in a statement, claimed Oshiomhole arrived at 6:10 a.m. and boarding for the 6:30 a.m. flight had already closed.
The airline accused him of assaulting staff and blocking the terminal entrance, disrupting other operations.
Meanwhile, media personality N6 wrote on social media: “Adams Oshiomhole caused serious problems at MM1 this morning… Him and his security team then blocked the departure point, insisting that nobody else should fly out till they sort him out.”
Oshiomhole has called on aviation authorities to look into the matter, describing Air Peace’s actions as “ruthless, primitive capitalism” that exploits ordinary Nigerians.