By Abiola Olawale
The legal and reputational crossfire surrounding the Chief Executive Officer of Air Peace, Allen Onyema, have escalated, presenting an intersecting web of mounting integrity crisis for him as well as Airpeace’s Chief of Administration and Finance, Ejiroghene Eghagha.
This is as the United States government has demanded that the US District Court, Northern District of Georgia to authorize the forfeiture of roughly $14 million (N25 billion) in assets owned by the Air Peace boss, Allen Onyeme.
Recall that in a recent overruling indictment, both Onyema and Ejiroghene Eghagha, who is the Chief of Administration and Finance at Air Peace, were accused of fraud, money laundering and falsification of documents to swindle the United States Banking system.
Details of the indictment showed that Onyema and Eghagha were accused of conspiracy to commit bank fraud.
Counts two to Four of the charges detailed alleged instances of bank fraud. Following the charges, the US government is seeking a superseding order granting the forfeiture of the following: (a)$4,017,852.51 from a JP Morgan Chase Bank account held by Springfield Aviation Inc.
(b) Also, the forfeiture of $4,393,842.05 from a Bank of Montreal account associated with Springfield Aviation Inc. , and (C) $5,634,842.04 from another Bank of Montreal account linked to Blue Stream Aero Services, Inc.
The indictment further states that if any of the forfeitable properties cannot be located, have been transferred, or diminished in value, the U.S. intends to seek the forfeiture of other assets belonging to Allen Onyeme, his co-defendant, Ejiroghene Eghagha and other defendants, equivalent to the value of the forfeitable properties.
This development is coming against the backdrop of fresh charges slammed against Onyema and his co-defendant by the US government. These charges stem from an alleged submission of false documents, which the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, United States, adjudged was aimed at halting a federal investigation against Allen Onyema, CEO of Airpeace and one Ejiroghene Eghagha.
Recall also that the United States Attorney General’s Office, Northern District of Georgia in a statement posted on its website last Friday, October 11, 2024, said “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 had added: “ The diligence of our federal investigative partners revealed the defendant’s alleged obstruction scheme, making it possible for the defendants to be held accountable for their aggravated conduct of attempting to impede the federal investigation.”
The New Diplomat, in a report in 2019, had reported how Onyema and Ejiroghene Eghagha, the airline’s Chief of Administration and Finance, were both charged before the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia over allegations of bank fraud, identity theft and money laundering.
In this latest charge sheet, the New Diplomat gathered that, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia has premised Onyema’s latest charge on allegations of obstructing justice.
The fresh charge sheet stated that following the initial alleged bank fraud and money laundering charges, Onyema and Eghagha allegedly attempted to obstruct the investigation by directing an individual managing Springfield Aviation to sign a backdated contract.
Onyema’s attorneys were said to have submitted the alleged backdated contract to U.S. authorities to halt the investigation and defreeze his frozen bank accounts, which led to additional charges of obstruction of justice.
U.S. Attorney Ryan Buchanan stated that Onyema allegedly used his airline as a front for fraud and later attempted to derail the investigation. He claimed that federal investigators’ diligence helped expose the obstruction scheme, holding the defendants accountable.
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 of his conduct.
“The diligence of our federal investigative partners revealed the defendants’ alleged obstruction scheme, making it possible for the defendants to be held accountable for their aggravated conduct of attempting to impede a federal investigation.”
Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division, highlighted that these cases demonstrate the Drug Enforcement Administration’s commitment to identifying and holding accountable those involved in fraud and money laundering.
However, Airpeace has since issued statements, asserting clearly that these remain allegations until they are proven. The Airline also insists that these investigations do not in any impede its operations in any way. The Airline is reputed as one of the best in Nigeria.
The New Diplomat had reported that Onyema was alleged to have transferred over $20 million through U.S. bank accounts allegedly using falsified documents regarding aeroplane purchases. Ejiroghene Eghagha, Air Peace’s Chief of Administration, was also charged with fraud and aggravated identity theft.
U.S. authorities had stated that Onyema used his airline and nonprofit organizations to facilitate the fraudulent scheme, moving over $44.9 million between 2010 and 2018. The investigation had further revealed that supporting documents for the transactions were allegedly falsified, and Onyema allegedly laundered over $16 million.
Additionally, Onyema was charged with 27 counts of money laundering, and Eghagha was charged with one count of aggravated identity theft. On October 8, 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 case is criminal action number 1:19-CR-464.
