By Nathaniel Zacchaeus, Abuja
A dramatic scene unfolded at Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal 1 (Zulu Hall), Lagos, yesterday after former Edo State governor and current Senator for Edo North, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, missed a scheduled Air Peace flight to Abuja and allegedly locked the terminal gate in protest.
According to a statement issued by Air Peace, the incident occurred around 6:10 am, when a “prominent Nigerian politician,” later identified as Oshiomhole, arrived for Flight P47120, scheduled to depart at 6:30 am.
The airline stated that the boarding gate had closed according to its policy, and the flight departed as scheduled.
But reacting to the incident, Oshiomhole offered a different narrative, accusing Air Peace of profiteering and deliberately denying passengers boarding to resell tickets at inflated prices.
Oshiomhole said he had booked the 6:30 am flight and checked in online the night before to avoid last-minute issues. He arrived at about 6:05 am, according to him, only to be told that boarding had closed.
“They told me the gate had closed. I showed them my online check-in. I had no luggage, but I arrived in good time. Yet they shut me out,” he said.
“Meanwhile, they were still letting in others who were buying tickets on the spot for between N200,000 and N300,000. So what’s the point of online check-in if passengers are denied access while seats are being resold at exorbitant rates?”
Oshiomhole said the problem was not unique to him, citing the example of a woman who bought a ticket for N146,000, arrived at 5:55 am, but was blocked from boarding with her baby and asked to buy another ticket for N109,100.
“She was told to pay again for the next flight, even though the aircraft was still on the tarmac. That’s over N250,000 for a one-hour flight to Abuja. I had to transfer her N500,000 just so she and her baby could continue their journey,” he revealed.
He alleged that Air Peace staff deliberately delayed and dismissed online check-in passengers in favour of walk-in customers willing to pay more. According to him, this amounted to fraudulent business practices made worse by the failure of regulatory authorities to intervene.
“You cannot board those buying tickets on the spot and deny those who booked and checked in days earlier. It’s abuse. Everyone will blame the government tomorrow, but this is the rot in the system,” he fumed.
In a viral video that circulated shortly after the incident, Oshiomhole is seen confronting airline and security officials as other passengers gathered around, expressing similar frustrations.
“When a DSS officer tried to usher me into a lounge, other passengers said, ‘Comrade, don’t leave. They’ve been doing this to us too.’ I had no choice but to stay with them,” he said.
Oshiomhole maintained that he did not attack anyone or behave violently but insisted that he stood his ground due to the plight of fellow passengers.
“Many people were stranded simply because they couldn’t afford another ticket. These airlines must follow the rules. This is not about power—it’s about fairness,” he said.
*He was unruly, disrupted our work- Air Peace
Air Peace accused Oshiomhole of engaging in violent and disruptive behaviour, including physically assaulting airline staff, sealing the terminal entrance, and personally obstructing access, effectively halting boarding for other passengers.
“Upon being informed of the missed flight, the politician resorted to violence, physically assaulting our staff and forcefully barricading the terminal’s entrance,” the airline stated.
“He went as far as sealing the entry gate and operating the access point, effectively obstructing other passengers from gaining entry into the terminal. This unacceptable behaviour caused significant disruption to ongoing operations and affected numerous travellers scheduled for various flights.”
The airline said it was compelled to activate an emergency operational plan by moving passengers to a different terminal to continue scheduled flights and minimise further inconvenience.
Air Peace said, “We are deeply saddened that such a high-profile figure displayed conduct so disruptive to fellow passengers and our personnel.
“Air Peace maintains a zero-tolerance stance on violence or any form of aggression against our staff and passengers. We urge all guests to remain civil and cooperative at all times,” the statement added.
*Senator petitions Aviation Minister
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Interior, Oshiomhole, has petitioned the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Festus Keyamo, regarding passenger extortions by airlines at Nigeria’s airports.
The former governor of Edo State also denied allegations of disrupting Air Peace operations at the Murtala Mohammed Airport in Lagos on Wednesday.
Oshiomhole, instead, clarified that his insistence on not being treated differently from other frustrated passengers led to the false narrative against him.
The Senator said he stood up against what he described as systemic extortion and poor customer service by the Nigerian airlines.
Briefing journalist in Abuja yesterday, Oshiomhole said his recent experiences with Air Peace highlighted the growing impunity and disregard for passengers’ rights in the country’s aviation sector.
He told journalists that he had already written a comprehensive report of his experience to the Minister, who, according to him, had assured that he would probe the matter.
The Senator presented documentary evidence evidence and videos showing how airlines are frustrating passengers at the airport, which he said had been forwarded to the Minister for necessary action.
Oshiomhole said he arrived at the airport at 6:10 am for a 6:50 am on Tuesday but was denied a boarding pass, even though he had met the airline’s check-in deadline of 30 minutes before departure.
He said, “Yesterday (Tuesday), I got to the airport 40 minutes ahead. My luggage was already checked in.
“They told me they had stopped issuing boarding passes. Meanwhile, I saw others arriving after me who were allowed to board,
“Despite holding business class tickets for myself and an aide, who was allowed to board, I was turned back.”
He lamented the arbitrary application of airline policies, which he said left him with a hotel bill of N1.5 million to accommodate himself and two stranded Ghanaian passengers.
Attempting to fly with Air Peace the next morning, Oshiomhole said he “arrived before 6:00 am for a 6:30 am flight, having checked in online by 9 pm the previous night.”
The Senator said he was again denied boarding, alongside other passengers who were confused by a last-minute change in check-in policy from 30 to 45 minutes before departure.
He said, “I got there at about five minutes past six. They told me the counter was closed. I told them, ‘No, I’ve already checked in.’
“ I showed them the evidence of my online check-in. Even before then, they had asked if I had checked in, and I told them yes and that I had no luggage.
“They looked at it but still said the gate had been closed. Meanwhile, I noticed they were still taking in other people.
“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? If I had to go through another check-in process, then what’s the point of checking in online?”
He explained, “While speaking to them, I saw many men and women who had been there even before me, with similar experiences. They were selling tickets on the spot at higher prices. I’ll give you an example.
“A lady bought her ticket for N146,000 online. She arrived at the airport at 5:55 a.m. for the 6:30 a.m. flight, after the gate agents had delayed her.
“They told her she was late and that the counter had closed for check-in. She said that was impossible, as it wasn’t even 6 am.
“They told her she would be put on the next flight. She protested, saying, ‘Why? Put me on this flight.’ However, they informed her that the flight was full and she would have to wait.
“Meanwhile, the airline was selling tickets on the spot for N250,000. To take advantage of the situation, they discouraged those who had bought tickets online at lower rates and sold them to people willing to pay more.
“I was told the counter had closed. But people were still being allowed to buy new tickets at higher prices. Those of us who had booked online for N146,000 were told we were late, while they sold new tickets for N250,000. That is not policy enforcement; it is extortion,” he said.
Rejecting claims that he caused a disruption, Oshiomhole said he remained calm but firm and only intervened when a crowd of stranded passengers, including women with babies, began to protest.
The Senator explained, “I didn’t disrupt anything. I refused to let them ‘sort me out’ while others were left stranded.
“They offered to help me once they recognised me. I said, don’t help me, enforce my rights like every other Nigerian,” he said.
He criticised what he called the “VIP culture of impunity,” where influential people are offered personalised solutions while ordinary citizens suffer.
“That’s the real problem, big men get sorted, and the rest of Nigerians are ignored. If speaking out makes me a troublemaker, then I’ll cause trouble forever,” he said.
He explained further, “I asked the manager, ‘What is this woman’s crime? She has a baby that’s no more than six months old. How can you refuse to board her when the aircraft is still on the ground, and more people are buying tickets?’ You cannot continue like this. Tomorrow, everyone will blame the government.
“You have regulatory agencies, and they are all compromising. You cannot board people buying tickets on the spot and deny those who booked days ago or checked in online.”
