Senator Adams Oshiomhole of Edo North Senatorial District on Wednesday dismissed Air Peace’s claim that he disrupted the airline’s operation after missing his flight.
Speaking to journalists in Abuja, Oshiomhole accused the airline of extortion and a sudden change in check-in policy.
According to him, he had arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) at 6:10am for a 6:50 am flight and met the airline’s 30-minute check-in before departure deadline, only to be told that “they had stopped issuing boarding passes”.
The senator said the denial forced him to lodge in a hotel where he paid N1.5 million for himself and two other Ghanaian passengers who were also denied boarding.
He added that he checked in at 7:46pm online that night, then returned to the airport at 6:05am only to be met with the same hurdle.
He had met the 30-minute check-in deadline, only to be told that the “gate had been closed” – check-in now requires 45 minutes before departure.
“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 asked.
Oshiomhole accused the airline staff of extortion, saying passengers who booked online for N146,000 were denied boarding, while a new ticket was being sold for N250,000 at the counter.
He added, “I was told at the counter had closed. But people were still being allowed to buy new tickets at higher prices,” he said.
“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 also denied disrupting the airline’s operation, saying, “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.”
