Air Peace CEO Allen Onyema Faces New Obstruction of Justice Charge Amid U.S. Fraud Investigation

Allen Onyema, the CEO of Nigeria’s Air Peace, faces new charges from the U.S. government for alleged obstruction of justice in a high-profile fraud case. The charges were announced on October 11, 2024, by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia.

Details of the Allegations

Onyema and Ejiroghene Eghagha, Air Peace’s Chief of Administration and Finance, are accused of submitting false documents to halt a federal investigation into their activities. The investigation, ongoing since 2019, involves allegations of money laundering and bank fraud.

Prosecutors allege that Onyema transferred over $20 million from Nigeria through U.S. bank accounts using fraudulent documents to purchase airplanes. The funds were allegedly moved under the guise of acquiring aircraft from Springfield Aviation Company LLC, a Georgia-based business owned by Onyema.

Obstruction Charges

The superseding indictment includes additional counts of obstruction of justice and conspiracy to obstruct justice. It claims that Onyema and Eghagha attempted to derail the investigation by submitting falsified documents.

U.S. Attorney Ryan Buchanan stated, “After allegedly using his airline company as a cover to commit fraud on the United States’ banking system, Onyema, along with his co-defendant, allegedly committed additional crimes of fraud in a failed attempt to derail the government’s investigation.”

Legal Proceedings

Despite the charges, Onyema has denied any wrongdoing. An Air Peace spokesperson described the new developments as a recycling of previous allegations and indicated that Onyema’s legal team would respond formally in due course.

The U.S. government has emphasised that both defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Impact on Air Peace

Air Peace continues its operations unaffected by the legal proceedings against its CEO. The airline maintains regular flight schedules across popular routes in Nigeria, with no reported disruptions linked to the case.
The charges against Allen Onyema highlight ongoing scrutiny over financial practices involving international transactions. As legal proceedings continue, the aviation industry and stakeholders will closely monitor developments in this significant case.

By Joseph Johnston,
Youth Editor,
Egogonews Hub

Please follow, like and share:

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *