Victor EzejaFormer Governor of Edo State, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, has given his own side of the story on what happened between him and Air Peace airline at Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal 1, Zulu Hall, on Wednesday morning.
Oshiomhole, who represents Edo North Senatorial district at the National Assembly, said he had earlier booked an Air Peace flight, but it was later cancelled and he had to reschedule the ticket to a 06:30 am flight on Wednesday.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelHe said that on arrival at the airport terminal, he and other passengers who had checked in online were not allowed to board the flight scheduled for 06:30 am.
He claimed that he arrived at the airport early but was told that check-in had closed. The lawmaker alleged that at the time they were told that check-in had closed, the airline’s staff were selling seats on the same flight at inflated prices to other passengers who didn’t have a prior reservation.
Narrating his experience, Oshiomhole said: “I got to the airport around 06:00 am or a few minutes before. 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 other people in.
“While speaking to them, I saw many men and women who had been there even before me, with similar experiences. Basically, 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 gatemen 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 6:00 a.m. They told her she would be put on the next flight. She protested, saying, ‘Why? Put me on this flight.’ But they told her the flight was full and she would have to wait.”
Oshiomhole alleged that while some passengers were stranded, they were selling tickets on the spot to others who were willing to pay more.
READ ALSO: Air Peace Condemns Unruly Conduct Of Oshiomhole, Who Missed Flight At Lagos Airport
Speaking on the claim that he disrupted operations of Air Peace at the terminal, the former NLC president said he only acted to enforce his rights and other affected passengers. He said they only offered to put him on another flight when they realized it was him, but he refused, asserting that due process must be followed to ensure that other passengers were not left stranded.
He said he didn’t block the access gate at the terminal or disrupt the airline’s operations as claimed. According to him, what led to the rowdiness that was captured in a video that circulated on social media was that people were denied boarding while tickets were being sold on the spot.
“I checked in online and arrived on time. The aircraft hadn’t taken off. I’m not supposed to check in twice. The rowdiness arose because many people were denied boarding while tickets were being sold on the spot to others.
“What they are actually doing at Air Peace is that because those who bought tickets online paid N146,000 at the time they bought, those who are buying today are paying as much as N250,000. So, they frustrate those who paid online at the rate quoted by them and give priority to those who had no previous reservation, who are ready to pay double the price at the expense of those who have already booked,” Oshiomhole stated.
He said some people came before him, but were denied boarding and asked to pay more money for the next available flight.
The lawmaker said he sent a petition to the Minister of Aviation on the spot and got a response that the matter would be investigated.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with seven years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Master's degree in Mass Communication.
