According to a report by Vanguard, Senator representing Edo North and former Governor of Edo State Comrade Adams Oshiomhole found himself at the centre of an early-morning disturbance at Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal 1 Zulu Hall on Wednesday. What began as a routine pre-flight procedure quickly escalated when Oshiomhole and several other passengers were barred from boarding an Air Peace flight bound for Abuja despite having completed online check-in. A video of the exchange between the senator and airport staff later circulated on social media, drawing widespread attention to the incident and prompting questions about airline boarding protocols.
According to the senator’s account to Vanguard, he arrived at the airport shortly after six a.m. after making his way through security without any hold luggage. Airport personnel informed him at the check-in desk that boarding operations for the flight had already closed. The senator presented his online check-in confirmation, noting that he had answered pre-flight inquiries and registered his intention to travel without excess baggage. Despite these efforts, staff insisted that the gate closure rendered further boarding impossible.
While the senator was being turned away, he observed that other passengers were still being ushered into the departure lounge. This discrepancy heightened his frustration and led to a heated confrontation with the airline official. He highlighted the inconsistency in treatment, questioning why some passengers continued to gain access while others were denied entry after fulfilling all check-in requirements. The situation grew tense as the official maintained that once the gate was declared closed, no additional passengers could be admitted under any circumstance.
Oshiomhole also raised concerns over allegations that Air Peace personnel were engaging in on-the-spot seat resales to travellers willing to pay inflated rates. According to his narrative, seats that should have been allocated to those who completed the online check-in process had allegedly been released and offered at higher prices to walk-in customers. He suggested that this practice not only breached fair boarding procedures but also placed genuine ticket holders at a disadvantage.
Following the viral spread of the video depicting the confrontation, the senator reiterated his call for improved transparency in airline operations. He urged aviation authorities to look into the boarding practices of carriers operating domestic routes and to ensure that passengers who meet all pre-flight obligations are not unfairly excluded from their scheduled flights. Oshiomhole emphasised that trust in the aviation sector depends on consistent application of regulations and equitable treatment of all passengers.
In response to the incident, aviation watchdogs have been prompted to review boarding protocols at major domestic terminals. Industry experts note that discrepancies between online check-in confirmations and actual boarding allowances could signal systemic issues that merit regulatory attention. As inquiries proceed, passengers are being advised to arrive at airports well in advance of scheduled departures and to document all interactions with airline staff. Meanwhile, Air Peace has yet to issue an official statement addressing the specific allegations raised by the senator or to clarify its seat allocation and boarding policies.
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 other people in.
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