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Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has ordered a thorough investigation into the recent altercation between Air Peace and Senator Adams Oshiomhole at Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos.
The directive, issued on Friday, June 13, follows a public dispute stemming from an incident on Wednesday, June 11. Air Peace had accused the senator, who represents Edo North, of disrupting flight operations after allegedly missing a scheduled flight. Videos circulating on social media show Oshiomhole speaking with an airport official and later staging a sit-in protest in front of a gate at Zulu Hall, Terminal 1 of the airport.
In response, Senator Oshiomhole denied any wrongdoing and instead accused the airline of extortion. He claimed that passengers who had already checked in online were asked to pay additional fees before boarding. Air Peace, in a strongly worded rebuttal, dismissed the allegations as “deliberate falsehood,” insisting that no passengers were asked to pay extra after the check-in deadline had passed.
Minister Keyamo confirmed that he had been in direct contact with both parties since the incident and appealed for restraint in their public statements.
“In the wake of the incident at the Lagos Airport last Wednesday involving Air Peace and His Excellency, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, I have been in direct contact with both parties since that morning,” Keyamo said. “Whilst appealing to both sides to halt the public accusations and counter-accusations, I am directing the relevant aviation agencies to thoroughly investigate the matter, collect all available evidence, and report back to my office. This will enable us to handle the issue appropriately and set clear guidelines for future conduct in similar situations.”
The minister also urged aviation authorities to avoid rushing to conclusions, emphasizing the importance of due process and fair hearing before issuing any decisions.
