Former Edo State Governor and serving Senator, Adams Oshiomhole, has accused Nigerian airline Air Peace of unethical practices, including reselling already-booked seats at inflated prices, after he was allegedly denied boarding despite checking in online.
The incident came to light following a viral video showing Oshiomhole in a heated exchange with airport officials at the Murtala Muhammed Airport’s domestic terminal. Speaking to Vanguard, the senator detailed his ordeal and criticized the airline for what he described as “deliberate exploitation” of passengers.
“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,” Oshiomhole explained. “Yesterday, I booked a flight for 6:30 a.m., which is their first flight today. I checked in online, along with two other Ghanaians who met me in Lagos. We had no luggage and arrived before 6:00 a.m.”
Despite having checked in online and arriving at approximately 6:05 a.m., Oshiomhole said he was told the gate had been closed, even though he presented evidence of his check-in. He further alleged that while he and others were being denied boarding, new passengers were being allowed to purchase tickets on the spot—at prices ranging from ₦200,000 to ₦300,000.
“So I asked, ‘How can you close boarding for a 6:30 flight at 6:05? What is the purpose of online check-in, then?’” he said.
According to Oshiomhole, several passengers, including a woman with a six-month-old baby, faced similar treatment. He said the woman, who had purchased her ticket online for ₦146,000, was told the flight was full and offered a seat on the next flight—only if she paid an additional ₦109,100.
“In total, she was asked to spend about ₦256,000 for a one-hour flight to Abuja,” he said. “There were many others in the same situation. Everyone was shouting at the airport.”
Oshiomhole decried what he called a “systemic failure” enabled by complicit regulatory agencies and called for immediate action to stop the exploitation of air travelers in Nigeria.
“I said to the manager, ‘You must follow the rules.’ Many people were stranded, except those who could afford another ticket. Even when an officer offered me a lounge, people begged me to stay and speak up. This is how they’ve been treating us.”
In a move to assist the stranded woman and her baby, Oshiomhole said he sent her ₦500,000 to cover costs and highlighted the urgent need for accountability in the aviation sector.
As of press time, Air Peace has not released an official statement regarding the incident.