Extortion allegations: Air Peace replies Oshiomhole 

Air Peace Airlines has strongly refuted allegations of extortion and ticket racketeering levelled against it by former Edo State Governor and current Senator representing Edo North, Adams Oshiomhole, following a heated incident at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, on Wednesday.

The controversy erupted after Senator Oshiomhole was denied boarding on Air Peace’s Flight P47120 scheduled to depart Lagos for Abuja at 6:30 a.m., a development that led to a scene at the airport’s local terminal, where he was seen in a now-viral video confronting airline staff and disrupting airport activities.

Speaking to reporters in Abuja later that day, the senator claimed that despite completing online check-in, he and several other passengers were unjustly prevented from boarding.

He further alleged that Air Peace officials were reselling boarding passes at inflated rates on the spot to willing buyers — a practice he described as “extortion.”

Oshiomhole, a former President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), insisted that the incident was not just a personal grievance but a reflection of systemic passenger exploitation, vowing to raise the matter on the floor of the Senate.

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In a detailed statement posted Thursday morning on its official X (formerly Twitter) handle, Air Peace issued a categorical denial of the senator’s accusations, describing them as “deliberate falsehood” and “defamatory.”

“The Senator lied blatantly when he accused Air Peace of extorting its passengers. We challenge Senator Oshiomhole to provide evidence of any passenger who was extorted,” the statement read.

Air Peace insisted that no tickets were sold after the official check-in closure and that all boarding passes had been issued in accordance with standard procedure.

“The aircraft departed with over thirty (30) empty seats,” the airline added. “If anything, it would have been in our interest to accommodate late passengers like Oshiomhole — but we will never compromise our on-time performance for profit.”

The airline went further to accuse Senator Oshiomhole of disruptive behavior, claiming he jumped on the baggage conveyor belt, obstructed operations, and blocked terminal entrances, thereby delaying other flights and agitating fellow passengers.

“Senator Oshiomhole was not fighting for anyone. He came late, was told he couldn’t board, and chose to instigate chaos instead,” Air Peace alleged.

The airline called on the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to release CCTV footage of Oshiomhole’s arrival and conduct at the airport to the public, insisting that the video evidence would debunk the senator’s version of events.

“His conduct was very violent, unbecoming, unfortunate, and above all, shameful,” the statement concluded.

The clash between one of Nigeria’s most prominent airlines and a high-ranking senator has stirred widespread public debate on social media, with opinions divided over who was at fault.

While some passengers corroborated Oshiomhole’s frustration with air travel logistics, others condemned his conduct as unbecoming of a public official.

Meanwhile, industry analysts have urged regulatory agencies like FAAN and NCAA (Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority) to investigate the incident thoroughly to protect both passengers’ rights and airline operational integrity.