Posted by Amarachi on Tue 12th Nov, 2024 - tori.ng
The new charges, added on October 8, allege obstruction of justice and conspiracy to obstruct justice, bringing the total counts against Onyema and Eghagha to 38, including conspiracy, money laundering, bank fraud, and identity theft.
Allen Onyema
A US Court has reissued a fresh arrest warrant against the CEO of Air Peace Limited, Allen Onyema, amid ongoing allegations of a $20 million bank fraud.
The federal court in Northern Georgia renewed the warrant on October 9 following additional charges filed against Onyema and his co-defendant, Ejiroghene Eghagha, Chief of Administration and Finance at Air Peace.
According to Premium Times, the new charges, added on October 8, allege obstruction of justice and conspiracy to obstruct justice, bringing the total counts against Onyema and Eghagha to 38, including conspiracy, money laundering, bank fraud, and identity theft.
The initial arrest warrant, issued in 2019, enabled U.S. Marshals to apprehend the suspects if they entered Canadian jurisdiction.
According to U.S. prosecutors, Onyema allegedly funneled suspicious funds from Nigeria to American bank accounts between 2017 and 2018, disguising the money as intended for aircraft purchases.
Prosecutors claim the funds were channeled through Onyema’s U.S.-based firm, Springfield Aviation, purportedly to buy aircraft for Air Peace.
However, they argue that Springfield Aviation never owned or sold the planes referenced in the bank documents, which were allegedly falsified to mislead American banks.
Prosecutors also allege that Eghagha fabricated purchase agreements and other documents submitted to U.S. banks.
Ebony Mayfield, who Onyema hired in 2016 as Springfield’s manager, signed off on these documents despite lacking experience in aviation or finance.
Mayfield, previously a bartender and waitress, was sentenced in 2022 to three years’ probation for her role in the scheme.
Further charges against Onyema stem from actions allegedly taken after learning of the U.S. investigation in 2019.
Prosecutors claim he directed Mayfield to sign an undated contract later presented to U.S. authorities with a falsified date to halt the investigation.
This action forms the basis for the new obstruction charges filed last month.
In a statement following the superseding indictment, U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan accused Onyema of using Air Peace as a “cover” to defraud U.S. banks.
IRS Assistant Special Agent Lisa Fontanette also criticized Onyema’s alleged misuse of the American banking system to conceal his funds.
Air Peace has responded by affirming Onyema’s innocence, calling the charges “mere allegations” and asserting that he has cooperated fully with U.S. authorities.
In a statement, the airline reassured the public that the legal proceedings would not impact its operations, emphasizing its commitment to safety and reliability.