Chairman and CEO of Air Peace, Chief Allen Onyema
More trouble for Air Peace CEO Onyema over fraud allegations in US
A United States federal district court in Northern Georgia has reissued an arrest warrant for Allen Onyema, the Chairman and CEO of Nigeria’s Air Peace Limited, on charges related to a $20 million fraud case pending for five years.
The court renewed the arrest order on October 9, following the addition of two new charges of obstruction of justice and conspiracy to obstruct justice to the original 36-count indictment.
This brings the total charges against Onyema and his co-defendant, Ejiroghene Eghagha, Air Peace’s Chief of Administration and Finance, to 38.
The superseding indictment, filed on October 8, accuses Onyema of attempting to obstruct justice by allegedly submitting false documents to end the investigation, which began in 2019.
US authorities allege that Onyema and Eghagha transferred large sums from Nigerian bank accounts to US accounts under the guise of purchasing aircraft for Air Peace from Onyema’s Atlanta-based company, Springfield Aviation LLC. However, prosecutors claim Springfield Aviation never owned or sold the aircraft referenced in these transfers.
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Prosecutors allege that Onyema conducted 27 money laundering transactions, moving approximately $15 million from Springfield Aviation’s Wells Fargo account in Atlanta to his personal savings account.
Air Peace has responded to the new charges by reiterating Onyema’s and Eghagha’s innocence, asserting that these allegations are “mere accusations” and emphasizing that the legal team is defending the case.
The airline assured the public that operations remain unaffected, maintaining its commitment to providing reliable services.
Onyema and Air Peace have consistently maintained their cooperation with US authorities, underscoring their belief in the judicial process to eventually exonerate their CEOs. The airline noted that the legal proceedings have no bearing on its operations, reassuring customers of its dedication to safety and service quality.
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