Air Peace’s Struggling Rebuttal Falls Flat: Questions Still Unanswered in Oshiomhole Dispute

By Chris Osa Uhunmwangho

Air Peace’s recent press statement attempting to debunk Senator Adams Oshiomhole’s account of mistreatment at the hands of the airline has done little to restore public confidence, if anything, it has raised more questions than it answered.

While the airline sought to cast doubt on the senator’s version of events, notably accusing him of arriving late for his flight, their response conspicuously failed to address the core issues raised by the former Edo State Governor. Crucial details were either omitted or glossed over, reinforcing the perception that the airline is dodging accountability.

First and most importantly, Air Peace made no attempt to directly refute Senator Oshiomhole’s claim that he had checked in online the night before his scheduled flight. The senator had presented evidence, including timestamps, showing that he completed the online check-in process around 7:46 p.m. the previous evening. He also stated that he arrived at the airport by 6:10 a.m. for a 6:30 a.m. flight, well within the previously advertised 30-minute check-in window.

By failing to deny this, Air Peace inadvertently confirms that Oshiomhole had complied with check-in requirements. If, indeed, the senator had already checked in online, the claim that he arrived “late” becomes moot, particularly since he was traveling without check-in luggage.

Another glaring omission in Air Peace’s statement is the failure to disclose the exact time Flight P47120 actually departed Lagos for Abuja. This is a critical piece of information. If the flight was scheduled for 6:30 a.m., and Oshiomhole arrived by 6:10 a.m., the public deserves to know whether the plane had already taken off, or if it was still boarding passengers.

Transparency about the departure time would either vindicate or undermine Oshiomhole’s claims, yet Air Peace conveniently sidestepped this detail, raising suspicions that they may be hiding unfavorable facts.

Perhaps most damaging to Air Peace’s credibility is their complete silence on the core of Oshiomhole’s public outcry, allegations of extortion, discriminatory practices, and the reselling of seats at inflated prices.

The senator, along with multiple eyewitnesses, alleged that Air Peace routinely denies boarding to passengers who purchased tickets at standard rates online, only to resell the same seats at exorbitant last-minute prices. One passenger reportedly bought a ₦146,000 ticket online, only to be told the flight was full, while others were allegedly allowed to board after paying ₦250,000 on the spot.

Air Peace’s press statement did not address this claim. There was no denial, no clarification of ticketing policies, and no assurance that such practices, if true, would be investigated or corrected.

Instead of addressing these serious allegations head-on, the airline’s statement focused on characterizing Oshiomhole as disruptive, an accusation he has firmly denied with accompanying video evidence and testimonies from fellow passengers. More importantly, he maintained that he declined VIP treatment that was offered to him in a bid to pacify the situation, insisting instead that all stranded passengers be treated fairly.

If Oshiomhole’s intention had been personal gain, as Air Peace tried to imply, why then would he reject a special seat offered to him alone and instead insist that all stranded passengers be accommodated equally?

Rather than taking responsibility and addressing specific claims, Air Peace’s press release reads more like an attempt to protect its corporate image than a transparent engagement with public concern. By failing to answer key questions, Was Senator Oshiomhole checked in? When exactly did the flight depart? Were tickets resold at inflated prices?. Air Peace has left the public with more doubts than reassurances.

Nigerians are no longer silent victims of poor airline service and exploitative practices. As the voices grow louder, especially with high-profile figures like Senator Oshiomhole speaking up, the public is demanding answers, not deflection.

Until Air Peace and other airlines confront these issues transparently and head-on, the perception of a broken, unfair system will persist. And no amount of PR spin will change that.