A heated altercation erupted at the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos yesterday between former Edo State Governor and serving senator, Adams Oshiomhole, and Nigerian airline, Air Peace, over a missed flight.
Senator Oshiomhole accused the airline of unethical practices and passenger extortion after he was denied boarding for a scheduled 6:30 a.m. flight to Abuja.
The lawmaker said he had reported the incident to the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, alleging racketeering by the airline.
Describing the scene as chaotic, Oshiomhole said, “The only reason I’m being noticed is because I’m a familiar face, but the situation around 6:00 a.m. was near-riotous. I’ve sent my complaint to the minister.”
In a swift response, Air Peace released a statement accusing the senator of violent and disruptive behavior, claiming he arrived late—at around 6:10 a.m.—after boarding had already closed.
The airline alleged that Oshiomhole physically assaulted staff, shut down the terminal’s main entrance, and blocked access for other passengers, causing delays and operational disruptions.
Oshiomhole denied any misconduct, instead citing a series of frustrating travel experiences. He recounted a recent incident where an Air Peace flight was delayed for over five hours before being cancelled. A subsequent attempt to fly with Ibom Air was unsuccessful despite having checked in his luggage, as he was denied boarding in person.
“I got to the airport on time, and my assistant had already checked in our luggage. Still, they refused to issue a boarding pass unless they saw me. When I arrived, they claimed the flight had closed,” he said.
The senator added that an Air Peace manager had assured him he could rebook for the 6:30 a.m. flight yesterday and advised him to check in online—which he said he did at 9:00 p.m. the night before. Yet, upon arrival, he was told the flight was full.
“I showed them my online check-in and boarding pass, but they still wouldn’t let me board. That means they overbooked,” Oshiomhole claimed, adding that he was forced to return to his hotel with a visiting Ghanaian delegation, incurring expenses of about ₦1.6 million.
He further alleged that between 20 to 30 passengers were also turned away and told to pay an extra ₦109,100 to board a later flight.
“They offered me special treatment, but I refused. What about the others who can’t afford that amount? It’s clear they’re reselling seats at inflated prices. That’s racketeering,” he added.
As of press time, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) had not responded to requests for comment on the incident.
The clash has sparked debate on the treatment of air travelers in Nigeria and rekindled calls for stricter regulations and consumer protections in the aviation industry.