A U.S. District Court in Atlanta, Georgia, has exonerated the Chief Executive Officer of Air Peace, Allen Onyema, from allegations of a $20 million bank fraud.
The charges, brought by U.S. authorities, accused Onyema of transferring suspicious funds from Nigeria to U.S. bank accounts between 2017 and 2018, supposedly for the purchase of aircraft.
Despite Onyema’s denial of any wrongdoing, he was declared wanted by U.S. officials in relation to the case, which involved 35 charges of bank fraud and money laundering.
His co-defendant, Ejiroghene Eghagha, the airline’s Chief of Administration and Finance, was also indicted.
After a thorough investigation by multiple U.S. agencies, the court ruled that no bank suffered any financial loss.
The case had been initiated by the Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia, but the charges were ultimately dismissed.
The court did, however, impose a probation sentence and a $4,000 fine on Ebony Mayfield, a former staff member of Springfield Aviation Company Inc.
She had pleaded guilty to one count in the indictment and was involved in handling Letters of Credit for Air Peace’s aircraft purchases.
The court noted that Mayfield’s sentence was the minimum under U.S. law.
In a statement issued by Augustine Alegeh & Co., legal counsel to Air Peace, the firm clarified that no fraudulent activity occurred, and no bank suffered any losses.
“Our clients never took loans or credit from any American Bank and Mayfield was never paid the sum of $20,000 at any time to commit any fraud, as it is being peddled in some quarters.
There was no loss of money or any damage whatsoever to any third party. The American government admitted in Court that no bank suffered any financial loss in the matter.”
The statement further emphasized that all steps taken in relation to the Letters of Credit were legitimate and in good faith.
“Our clients maintain their innocence in the matter and state that all steps taken in respect of the Letters of Credit were taken in good faith and with legitimate funds.
“All the aircraft involved were brought into Nigeria and utilised in the operations of Air Peace Limited. There was no victim.
“There was no loss of funds to any person and there was no criminal intent whatsoever.”
The legal firm reiterated that Nigerian law enforcement agencies found no evidence of criminality, confirming Onyema’s innocence.
“Our Client’s position has been reviewed by various Law Enforcement Agencies in Nigeria and no evidence of criminality has been established against them. Our Clients remain resolute in the assertion of their innocence,” the statement added.
