Air Peace has denied any allegations of wrongdoing against its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Allen Onyema, and Chief Finance Officer, Mrs. Ejiro Eghagha, in relation to financial misconduct charges brought by the U.S. Department of Justice.
The airline also assured customers that the legal action would not impact its operations.
Air Peace in a statement on Sunday obtained by NewsNGR insisted that its officials are innocent, adding that the allegations have no basis.
On October 11, 2024, the US DOJ released a report which allged that, “The founder of Air Peace, a Nigerian airline, has been charged in a superseding indictment with 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.”
It also said the airline’s Chief of Administration and Finance was charged for participating in the obstruction scheme, as well as in the earlier bank fraud counts.
“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,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan.
“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.”
A Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division, Robert J. Murphy alleged, “These cases represent the continued commitment of the Drug Enforcement Administration to identify and hold accountable those who engaged in fraud and money laundering.”
An Assistant Special Agent in Charge Lisa Fontanette, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Atlanta Field Office also alleged, ” Onyema and his accomplices fraudulently used the U.S. banking system in an effort to hide the source of their ill-gotten money.
“Today’s superseding indictment is indicative of the dedication IRS-CI special agents and our law enforcement partners have, as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces, to neutralize threats to the United States from criminal organizations.”
But the airline said these charges levelled against its CEO and CFO are part of an extended legal process stemming from earlier accusations of financial misdeeds that date back several years.
Air Peace said, “While the charges have been expanded, it is essential to emphasize that both Dr. Onyema and Mrs. Eghagha remain innocent and these are mere allegations, and the case is still in court. 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.
“It is important to note that Dr. Onyema and his legal team have consistently cooperated with authorities throughout this process, and Air Peace continues to operate without disruption, upholding our commitment to delivering top-notch services to our 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.”