Lagos, Nigeria – Nigeria’s leading carrier, Air Peace, has issued a strong rebuttal to recent allegations by former Edo State governor and serving senator, Adams Oshiomhole, who accused the airline of extortion and misconduct.
The airline, in a statement released on Thursday, described the claims as “deliberate falsehood” and challenged the senator to provide evidence to support his accusations. The company also called on the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to publicly release closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage from the airport to clarify the events surrounding the incident.
According to Air Peace, no tickets were sold after check-in closed, and all passengers on the flight in question had purchased their tickets beforehand. The airline stressed that the flight was not overbooked, contradicting Oshiomhole’s assertion that passengers were denied boarding due to overselling of seats.
“The aircraft departed with over thirty empty seats,” the statement noted. “It would have been in our interest to accommodate Senator Oshiomhole and others who arrived late, but we maintain a strict on-time performance policy and will not compromise that for monetary gain.”
Refuting claims that the senator was advocating on behalf of other passengers, Air Peace alleged that Oshiomhole arrived late for his flight and reacted by creating a scene at the airport.
“He disrupted operations by climbing onto the baggage conveyor belt and blocking the terminal entrance, preventing access for other travellers,” the statement added. “He also incited passengers against the airline in a highly disruptive manner.”
Air Peace described the senator’s conduct as “aggressive, inappropriate, and disgraceful,” and emphasized that no staff member engaged in any form of extortion.
The airline concluded by urging FAAN to release the CCTV footage showing Oshiomhole’s arrival and conduct at the airport, insisting the public deserves to see what transpired.
As of press time, Senator Oshiomhole has not responded to the airline’s statement.
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