Senator Adams Oshiomhole has strongly refuted Air Peace airline’s allegations that he used security personnel to block an airport gate during their recent confrontation, as the federal government launches an official investigation into the incident that has dominated headlines last week.
The Edo North senator made some counter-arguments to the airline’s version of events during an interview with Channels TV from 4:53, presenting what he claims is evidence that contradicts Air Peace’s public statements about the airport dispute.
Oshiomhole categorically denied Air Peace’s assertion that he arrived at the airport with an entourage of security officers who helped him obstruct operations. “They claim I came with a team of security officers, and I used the security men that accompanied me to block the gate. Again, complete falsehood, and this is not my word against their word,” he stated.
The senator described his arrival at the airport as a solitary passenger with minimal belongings. “On that day I was alone, I didn’t have a personal assistant and I didn’t have one policeman. I didn’t have anybody with me; I only had my small hand luggage, not even standard hard luggage, just a briefcase,” Oshiomhole explained.
He clarified the identity of security personnel present during the incident, stating they were not his personal detail. “Those security men were airport personnel who came either at their invitation or doing their routine job,” the senator argued.
The Former Labour Leader also challenged Air Peace’s claims about his late arrival by presenting what he described as digital proof of timely check-in procedures. He disputed the airline’s explanation for why other passengers were still checking in while his access was denied.
Oshiomhole also revealed that the stranded passengers had indicated why they were being denied boarding by Air Peace. He referenced how one of the women who spoke on camera stated that she was present when he (Oshiomhole) walked in and that place was already in chaos because of the many Nigerians who were denied boarding.
The Senator explained that the situation was extremely chaotic because the passengers had checked in but were then asked to pay additional sums. He noted that people who bought tickets on the spot had to pay double the price that other passengers had paid online.
Oshiomhole gave the testimony of another woman who arrived even before he came at 5:55 a.m., revealing that she had booked online and paid 149,000 naira for her ticket, but was denied boarding despite having a valid ticket.
