You Lied, You Came Late & Missed Your Flight, Air Peace Replies APC Chieftain’s Allegations

Air Peace has denied allegations that it blocked the Special
Adviser on Drainages and Water Resources to Governor Babajide
Sanwo-Olu of Lagos, Joe Igbokwe, from boarding its aircraft.
Responding to Igbokwe’s allegation that he was told by a manager of
the airline that there were “orders from above” not to allow him
board, the airline said the statement is untrue and not an accurate
representation of what transpired.

On his Facebook page, Igbokwe alleged that he was prevented from
boarding the aircraft because he criticised the airline after the
incident that occurred onboard its aircraft on December 14,
2018.

He said: “Last year, December 14, 2018, I travelled with Air
Peace airline to Enugu on my way to Makurdi for a meeting of APC
publicity secretaries. On our way to Enugu, the aircraft developed
a fault that led to loss of pressure and created panic. I returned
to Lagos to notice that the incident had become a national issue as
passengers who recorded the incident began to talk. I told my own
side of the story and how I remained calm. TVC invited me and the
late PRO of the airline, Mr Chris Iwara and I gave my account of
the experience and moved on.

“This morning, I had a 6:30 am flight with Air Peace to Abuja to
attend an event slated for 10 am but missed it. I met Toyosi
Akerele-Ogunsiji at the airport who worked to get me in for 7 am or
8 am. I was shocked when a manager walked to me and said he had an
instruction from above that they should not allowed me to travel
with Air Peace because of my encounter with them last year. They
said I didn’t speak well of Air Peace.

“After our conference in Makurdi, I travelled to Abuja by road
and still took Air Peace to Lagos. Last Friday, I took Air Peace to
Owerri and flew Air Peace back to Lagos. Now, what is my offence? I
am yet to figure out why Air Peace had to do this to me.”

But the airline denied his allegations, saying that Igbokwe was
denied entry because of lateness as by the time he arrived by 6:15
am, check-in had already closed by 6 am.

“It is true that Mr Igbokwe was at Air Peace counter to get his
boarding pass but he arrived late. For a 6:30 am flight, he got to
our counter at 6:15 am, whereas, check-in had closed at 6 am. When
we could not check him in, he requested to be on the next flight (8
am) to Abuja but it was already full. This was clearly explained to
him and was what played out.

“As a government official, we expected that Mr Igbokwe should
have known better than he did by using social media to defame an
airline. His post is malicious and unacceptable. The Toyosi Akerele
Ogunsiji whom he cited in the post has denied saying or doing what
Mr Igbokwe attributed to her. We make bold to say that even the
chairman of Air Peace has been missing his flights and never called
for procedures to be shortchanged for him even though he owns the
airline. Air Peace is strongly committed to giving its passengers
an excellent service and will never treat any passenger unfairly.
Mr Igbokwe’s perspective is a misrepresentation of the reality and
should be disregarded,” the airline said.

AIR PEACE REACTION

“Our Attention has been drawn to a Facebook post by one Mr Joe
Igbokwe who is alleging that Air peace deprived him of his 6:30am
flight (P47120) from Lagos Abuja on November 19, 2019.

“His Post says “Air Peace blocked him from travelling. We are
stating categorically here that this allegation is untrue. we could
not have blocked and individual that flies with us, even last
week.

“It is untrue that Mr. Joe Igbokwe was at Air peace counter to
get his boarding pass but he arrived late. For a 6:30 am Flight, Mr
Joe Igbokwe got to our counter 6:15am whereas check-in had closed
at 6am.

“When we could not check him in, he requested to be on the Next
flight (8am) to Abuja but it was already full. This was clearly
explained to him. This is exactly what played out.

“How could we have blocked him for criticizing us for a event
that happened a year ago?

“How could Air Peace have blocked him all of a sudden when, in
fact, he has never ceased flying Air Peace since the said event of
Last year?

“We are still at loss as to the reason and motive behind the
avalanche of attacks on this Airline by this same man at every
given turn.

“As a government official, we expected that Mr. Joe Igbokwe
should have known better than he did by using the social media to
defame an Airline, especially in an era that the government is
trying to sanitize the social media space.

“Mr Joe Igbokwe’s post is Malicious and unacceptable. The Toyoso
Akerele Ogunsiji whom he cited in the post has denied saying or
doing what Mr Igbokwe attributed to her.

“Passengers confirmed that he came late. We make bold to say
that even the Chairman/CEO of Air Peace, has been missing his
flights and never called for procedures to be shortened for him
even though he owns the Airline.

“Air Peace is strongly committed to giving its passengers an
excellent service and will never treat any passenger unfairly. Mr
Joe Igbokwe’s perspective is a misrepresentation of the reality and
should be disregarded. We still regard him as our customer and will
never block him from patronizing us.”

Responding earlier today, Joe Igbokwe
wrote:

“I woke up this morning to read the response of AIR PEACE
concerning their unacceptable and very disappointing behavior to me
at the Airport yesterday.

“Yes, I agree that I came 15 minutes late and friends like
Toyosi Akerele Ogunsiji spotted me and tried hard to use her
goodwill with the Airline to get me 7 or 8am flight.

“In fact through her intervention I was asked to forward the
reference number on my ticket which I did. The reference No is
AK8NV3.

“About 40 minutes later a lady came and collected my ticket and
told they will put me on the next flight . I was happy.

“Soon the Station Manager came out and promised to assist me. I
relaxed.

“Some 30 minutes after the same Station manager came and told me
that because I once had an issue with the Airline last year they
will not allow me to fly.

“I was shocked to the marrows. I told him strongly that they
will not like the outcome of this encounter . I went to ARIK AIR
and was lucky to get 9 am flight and I travelled to Abuja, finished
my assignment and returned to Lagos with Dana Air.

“I have read the pathetic and pathological lies from the
management of Air Peace and I pray that God will help them but our
God is a God of justice.

“Did the Station Manager deny not telling me that I will not fly
with them because of my encounter with them last year?

“Has the management investigated this? So they think that I am a
small boy that can just imagine things? Do they have
conscience?

“So it is difficult for the Air Peace to accept responsibility
and apologize to me? When gold rust what will iron do?

“Lies have never won any debate throughput history. You can
manufacture a million lies to cover one truth but even when you
succeed in doing this truth has a way of coming out to stare you on
the face.

“Air Peace is becoming arrogant due to small success.

“Air Peace abused my right as their customer and tried to abuse
my fundamental human rights as a citizen by spewing lies to defend
what can never be defended. I leave them to their conscience.

“There are other Airlines in Nigeria namely AZMAN, ARIK AIR,
DANA, FIRST NATION, MAXI, IBOM AIR etc. I now have a choice.

“I still believe that Allen Onyema the CEO of Air Peace can do a
proper investigation to know the truth and nothing but the
truth.

“Blatant, congenital and pathological lies have destroyed strong
institutions, organizations and even nations. May this never be the
portion of Air Peace.

“May God help us to speak the truth no matter whose ox is gored
and no matter the circumstances.

“The Great Book says know the truth and it shall set you free.
Truth is as constant as Northern Stars. I leave Air Peace to their
conscience. Case Rested!”

He later posted again:

“Mrs Toyin Olajide , the COO Air Peace just spoke to me now and
told me they are investigating the matter and that nobody was given
an instruction to blacklist me from using air peace.

“This is enough for me. Thank you coo.”