Air Peace logo, Allen Onyema
By Victory Oghene
The management of Air Peace Limited, Nigeria’s largest airline company, on Sunday, said the ongoing legal proceedings against its founder, Allen Onyema, and Chief of Finance and Administration, Ejiro Eghagha, will not affect the safety, reliability, and daily operations of the airline.
Recall that the United States government has added more charges to the $20 million bank fraud case against Mr Onyema, the CEO of Air Peace
Although Mr Onyema has denied wrongdoing, he is wanted in the US over the bank fraud charges filed against him and a co-defendant at the District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, in Atlanta since 2019.
However, things got worse for the Air Peace officials last week.
“On 8 October 2024, they were both charged in a superseding indictment alleging an additional count of obstruction of justice and one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice,” the US Attorney Office, Northern District of Georgia, said in a statement on Friday.
The office said Mr Onyema is accused of “obstruction of justice for submitting false documents to the government in an effort to end an investigation of him that resulted in earlier charges of bank fraud and money laundering.”
Prosecutors said he submitted false documents to US authorities in 2019 in an effort to stop the investigation and unfreeze his bank accounts regarding the alleged $20 million bank fraud.
Ejiroghene Eghagha, accused of participating in the alleged obstruction scheme, as well as in the earlier bank fraud counts, is Mr Onyema’s co-defendant in the case.
“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 of his conduct,” the statement quoted US Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan.
Air Peace reacts
In a statement issued by the airline and posted on its official X page on Sunday, Air Peace said it understands that the ongoing legal proceedings may have raised concerns.
“These charges levelled against our post-holders are part of an extended legal process stemming from earlier accusations of financial misdeeds that date back several years,” the statement said.
It noted that while the charges have been expanded, it is essential to emphasise that “both Mr Onyema and Eghagha remain innocent and these are mere allegations, and the case is still in court.”
It added that: “Our legal team is fully engaged with the matter and is working tirelessly to ensure that justice prevails. We remain confident that, through due process, the truth will be revealed, and our CEO and co-defendant will be exonerated.”
The airline argued that Mr Onyema and his legal team have consistently cooperated with authorities throughout the legal process and that Air Peace continues to operate without disruption, upholding its commitment to delivering top-notch services to its valued customers.
“We want to reassure the public that these legal proceedings will not impact the safety, reliability, or day-to-day operations of Air Peace. The dedication and focus of our staff remain steadfast as we continue to provide you with the best aviation experience in Nigeria and beyond,” the airline said.
