A significant dispute has erupted between Nigeria's major carrier, Air Peace, and Senator Adams Oshiomhole, following the airline's refusal to board him on a 6:30 am flight from Lagos to Abuja on Wednesday. The controversy centers on conflicting accounts of the incident, with Oshiomhole accusing the airline of ticket racketeering and extortion, while Air Peace maintains the Senator arrived late for his flight.

Senator Oshiomhole alleged that despite checking in online, which should have allowed him to proceed directly to the aircraft after security screening, Air Peace ground staff engaged in ticket racketeering and extortion, ultimately refusing him boarding. He vehemently insisted he was challenging the airline's alleged practice of selling tickets to passengers after its counters had officially closed, implying a deliberate overcharging scheme. Specifically, Oshiomhole claimed the airline sold tickets priced at N146,000 for inflated rates ranging from N200,000 to N300,000 to passengers at the counter.

In response, Air Peace management issued a statement vehemently denying all allegations of staff involvement in extortion or ticket racketeering. The airline asserted that the core reason for the incident was Senator Oshiomhole's late arrival at the terminal, long after boarding had closed for the particular flight. Air Peace challenged the Senator to provide any evidence of a passenger being extorted, stating unequivocally that "none of our staff ever extorted any passenger" and that "no ticket was sold after the closure of check-in on that flight."

Beyond denying Oshiomhole's claims, Air Peace leveled serious accusations against the former Edo State Governor. The airline claimed Oshiomhole resorted to violence and actively disrupted airport operations. They cited supporting videos showing the Senator blocking the main entrance of the terminal, thereby impeding access for other airport users. Air Peace further detailed that Oshiomhole "jumped on the baggage conveyor belt preventing the check-in process of other flights" and "barricaded the entrance gate and prevented access to the terminal." The airline also accused him of deliberately instigating other passengers against the airline while engaging in these disruptive actions.

Air Peace also clarified that the flight in question was never overbooked, contrary to some of Oshiomhole's video allegations. The aircraft, in fact, took off with over thirty empty seats. The airline emphasized that it would have been in their interest to accommodate Oshiomhole and other late passengers, but they would "never sacrifice our strict on-time performance for monetary gains." They dismissed the notion that Oshiomhole was offered preferential treatment or that he was fighting for others, reiterating that "Senator Oshiomhole was not fighting for anyone. He came to the airport late and was told that he was late. He then began to foment trouble."

To substantiate its claims and counter the Senator's narrative, Air Peace has called upon the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to release the CCTV coverage of the entire operations, specifically from the moment Senator Oshiomhole entered the airport. The airline stated this footage would allow Nigerians to see the truth of the events. Air Peace described Oshiomhole's accusation of extortion as "very defamatory" and characterized his overall conduct as "very violent, unbecoming, unfortunate and above all, shameful."