Anita Ogona
A United States District Court in Atlanta, Georgia, has exonerated Allen Onyema, the Chief Executive Officer of Air Peace, off any wrongdoing in an alleged $20 million bank fraud case brought against him by the U.S. government.The U.S. authorities had accused Onyema of transferring suspicious funds from Nigeria to American bank accounts between 2017 and 2018, purportedly disguised as payments for aircraft purchases.
Despite denying any wrongdoing, Onyema was declared wanted in the U.S. due to the charges filed against him in District Court.
He faced allegations of submitting false documents to thwart a federal investigation, culminating in 35 charges of bank fraud and money laundering in 2019.
Also indicted and named as a co-defendant in the case was Ejiroghene Eghagha, the airline’s chief of administration and finance, who was similarly declared wanted in connection with the matter.After an extensive investigation involving five U.S. government agencies, the court found that no banks had suffered any losses from the allegations presented by the Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia.
However, the court did impose probation and a $4,000 fine on Ebony Mayfield, a former employee of Springfield Aviation Company Inc., for her role in the case after she pleaded guilty to one count in the indictment.
A statement from Augustine Alegeh & Co., legal counsel for the airline, clarified that Mayfield received the minimum possible sentence under U.S. law after she struggled to explain several Letters of Credit used for aircraft purchases on behalf of Air Peace Limited during the jury trial.
The firm emphasized that the airline was not engaged in any fraudulent activities, as the court determined there had been no loss of funds by any bank.
“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.
“Mayfield, like other Springfield Aviation Company Inc. staff, was only paid her bi-weekly salary and/or allowances,” it clarified.
“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.
“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 firm declared
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