LIVE UPDATES
The management of Air Peace, an indigenous private airline, has dismissed allegations of extortion made by Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, the lawmaker representing Edo North senatorial district and former Governor of Edo State.
The airline described the claims as defamatory and challenged Oshiomhole to provide evidence to support his assertions.
They also appealed to the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to release Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) footage from the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Ikeja to clarify the events surrounding the incident.
Oshiomhole has countered Air Peace's statements, labeling them as false and inconsistent with what occurred at the airport.
He recounted his experience on Wednesday morning at the airport, where he confronted Air Peace staff regarding issues that he and other passengers faced.
According to Oshiomhole, the airline failed to honor its commitments, leading to significant delays and cancellations.
In his account, Oshiomhole stated, “I booked an Air Peace flight that was delayed for over five hours before it was ultimately canceled. I had to purchase another ticket. On the day of my flight, I arrived at the airport shortly after 6:00 a.m. for a 6:30 a.m. flight, having checked in online.
However, I was informed that the counter was closed, despite evidence of my online check-in. Meanwhile, I noticed that other passengers were still being allowed to board.”
He further alleged that Air Peace was reselling seats at inflated prices, stating, “I saw many passengers who had arrived earlier than me facing the same issues.
They were being told that their flights were full while tickets were being sold on the spot for significantly higher prices.”
Oshiomhole cited an example of a woman who had purchased her ticket for N146,000 but was denied boarding and later offered a spot on the next flight for an additional fee, totaling nearly N256,000.
The situation escalated, leading to a commotion in the terminal as frustrated passengers voiced their grievances.
Oshiomhole emphasized the need for regulatory oversight, criticizing the airline for prioritizing profit over customer service. “You cannot board people buying tickets on the spot and deny those who booked days ago or checked in online,” he asserted.
As the situation drew attention, personnel from the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Air Force intervened, attempting to mediate the chaos. Oshiomhole expressed solidarity with the affected passengers, stating, “I had to send that woman N500,000 to help her. This behavior cannot continue; it undermines consumer rights and trust in the airline industry.”
