A combined picture of Senator Adams Oshiomhole and Air Peace aircraft
By Victory Oghene
The Federal Government has ordered a thorough investigation into Wednesday’s altercation between Air Peace and Edo North Senator, Adams Oshiomhole, at the Lagos airport.
In a statement issued on Friday through his X (formerly Twitter) handle, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, said he has been in direct contact with both parties since the incident and appealed to them to halt their public accusations and counter-accusations.
He directed the relevant aviation agencies to gather all available evidence and submit a report to his office to help guide future conduct in similar cases.
Recall that there has been a running battle between Air Peace and Senator Adams Oshiomhole over inability of the lawmaker to board an Abuja bound Air Peace flight from Lagos.
Videos circulated on X showed the Senator addressing an official at the airport and sitting in front of a gate at Zulu Hall in Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal 1 exile Air Peace accused him of disrupting activities of its operation after missing a flight.
In response, Oshiomhole denied causing any disruption, insisting he was standing against what he called extortion of passengers and arbitrary policy changes by the airline.
He alleged that Air Peace demanded additional payments from online checked-in passengers boarding their flight, a claim the airline dismissed as “deliberate falsehood.”
Keyamo appealed to both parties to exercise restraint in their exchanges and allow due process to take its course.
“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,” the minister said.
“Whilst appealing to both sides to halt the public accusations and counter-accusations, I am further directing the relevant aviation agencies to thoroughly look into the issue, collect all available evidence, and revert to my office so we can deal with the issue in a way that guides future conduct in similar situations.”
Keyamo also stressed the importance of fairness and impartial inquiry, noting that the longstanding legal principle of listening to all parties must be upheld.
