The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has brought a new charge of obstruction of justice against Allen Onyema, founder and CEO of Nigeria’s largest airline, Air Peace. This development is part of an ongoing investigation into a $20 million bank fraud and money laundering case, first brought against Onyema and Air Peace’s Chief of Administration and Finance, Ejiroghene Eghagha, five years ago.
The new charge, announced on Friday, accuses Onyema of submitting false documents to the U.S. government in an attempt to obstruct the investigation. The DOJ alleges that Onyema provided misleading information in a bid to halt the probe into his and Eghagha’s involvement in the fraudulent scheme. The original indictment, filed in 2019, claimed that both executives moved over $20 million from Nigeria into U.S. bank accounts under the guise of purchasing aircraft from a company purportedly based in the U.S. state of Georgia.
Ryan K. Buchanan, the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia, stated that the new obstruction charge is linked to additional fraudulent activities. “Onyema and Eghagha have not only been charged with bank fraud and money laundering but are now facing accusations of further crimes of fraud,” Buchanan said.
According to the DOJ, the fraudulent scheme involved falsifying documents to secure financing from U.S. banks for the purchase of aircraft. These transactions allegedly masked the true purpose of the funds, allowing Onyema and Eghagha to transfer large sums of money into U.S. accounts while circumventing legal and financial controls.
Since the charges were first brought against them, neither Onyema nor Eghagha has been arrested. Air Peace has consistently maintained that both executives are innocent. In a statement released on Sunday, the airline defended Onyema, claiming that he has been fully cooperative with the investigation since it began and is confident that both he and Eghagha will ultimately be cleared of all allegations. “These are mere allegations,” the statement read, adding that the executives remain focused on their work at Air Peace.
The airline also emphasized that Onyema’s commitment to transparency and accountability has been unwavering, despite the ongoing legal battle. “He has shown resilience and trust in the legal process, and we believe the truth will prevail in the end,” the company said.
This case has drawn significant attention due to Onyema’s prominent role in Nigeria’s aviation sector. Air Peace, founded in 2013, has grown rapidly to become one of the country’s largest airlines, serving both domestic and international routes. Onyema, widely regarded for his philanthropic efforts and contributions to Nigeria’s aviation industry, now faces a serious legal battle that could have wide-reaching implications for both his personal reputation and the future of Air Peace.
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