Adedapo Adesanya
By Adedapo Adesanya
The CEO and founder of Air Peace, Mr Allen Ifechukwu Athan Onyema, has been charged by the United States Department of Justice, Northern District of Georgia with bank fraud and money laundering.
It was alleged that he moved more than $20 million from Nigeria through United States bank accounts in a scheme involving false documents based on the purchase of airplanes.
Beginning in 2010, they claimed that Onyema began travelling frequently to Atlanta, where he opened several personal and business bank accounts. Between 2010 and 2018, over $44.9 million was allegedly transferred into his Atlanta-based accounts from foreign sources.
The airline’s Chief of Administration and Finance, Ejiroghene Eghagha, was also been charged alongside Onyema with bank fraud and committing aggravated identity theft in connection with the scheme.
Speaking on the indictment, US attorney, Byunj J. Pak said: “Onyema allegedly leveraged his status as a prominent business leader and airline executive while using falsified documents to commit fraud.
“We will diligently protect the integrity our banking system from being corrupted by criminals, even when they disguise themselves in a cloak of international business.”
On his part, Robert J. Murphy, the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division added, “Allen Onyema’s status as a wealthy businessman turned out to be a fraud. He corrupted the U.S. banking system, but his trail of deceit and trickery came to a skidding halt.
“DEA would like to thank the many law enforcement partners and the subsequent prosecution by the U.S. Attorney’s Office who aided in making this investigation a success.”
According to the statement released by the Department, “Beginning in approximately May 2016, Onyema, together with Eghagha, allegedly used a series of export letters of credit to cause banks to transfer more than $20 million into Atlanta-based bank accounts controlled by Onyema.
“The letters of credit were purportedly to fund the purchase of five separate Boeing 737 passenger planes by Air Peace. The letters were supported by documents such as purchase agreements, bills of sale, and appraisals proving that Air Peace was purchasing the aircraft from Springfield Aviation Company LLC, a business registered in Georgia.
“However, the supporting documents were fake — Springfield Aviation Company LLC, which is owned by Onyema and managed by a person with no connection to the aviation business, never owned the aircraft, and the company that allegedly drafted the appraisals did not exist.” the statement read in parts.
