‘I protested extortion of Nigerians by Air Peace’, Oshiomhole defends himself after airport clash
Senator Adams Oshiomhole, representing Edo North, has disputed claims that he disrupted operations at the Zulu Terminal of Lagos’ Murtala Muhammed International Airport.
Instead, he insists he was standing up against alleged extortion by Air Peace.
Speaking to journalists in Abuja, Oshiomhole said he arrived at Terminal 1 (Zulu Hall) for the 6:30 a.m. flight at 6:05, having checked in online the night before.
He said he was inexplicably denied boarding, despite boarding other passengers who arrived later
“I was there 40 minutes early … I got there at about five minutes past six. They told me the counter was closed. I showed them the evidence of my online check‑in… Meanwhile, I noticed they were still taking other people in,” Oshiomhole said.
He revealed more concerning behaviour: a passenger with a baby, who had purchased a ₦146,000 ticket online and checked in well on time, was allegedly denied boarding and told to purchase a new ticket on the spot for a higher price. Oshiomhole claims Air Peace staff were selling replacement tickets for up to ₦300,000
“This is not enforcement; it’s extortion,” he said. “They discouraged those who had bought tickets online at lower rates and sold to people willing to pay more”
In response to his protest, airport authorities and airline officials allegedly attempted to sway him with preferential treatment.
He refused, saying: “Don’t help me. Respect my rights—and the rights of every Nigerian,” noting that the uproar was driven by frustrated passengers, not him
Oshiomhole also recounted assisting the mother with a baby, ultimately wiring her ₦500,000 to offset her unexpected travel expense
The senator seized on the incident to call for an urgent review of airline practices and regulatory bodies.
“If someone like me can be treated like this, imagine what everyday citizens go through… The NCAA must act. Government must act,” he said.
