The United States government has filed additional charges against Allen Onyema, CEO of Air Peace, in connection with the ongoing $20 million bank fraud case. Onyema has been wanted in the U.S. since 2019 for allegedly using his airline company to commit fraud on the U.S. banking system.
New Charges:
- Obstruction of Justice: submitting false documents to the government to end an investigation
- Conspiracy to Obstruct Justice: working with Ejiroghene Eghagha to derail the government’s investigation
- Bank Fraud: allegedly using his airline company to commit fraud on the U.S. banking system
- Money Laundering: laundering over $16 million of the proceeds of the fraud
Co-Defendant:
Ejiroghene Eghagha, Air Peace’s Chief of Administration and Finance, is accused of participating in the alleged obstruction scheme and earlier bank fraud counts.
Investigation:
The case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces operation. Onyema and Eghagha are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Statement from U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan:
“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.”
Timeline:
2019: Onyema and Eghagha indicted on bank fraud and money laundering charges
2024: Superseding indictment filed, adding obstruction of justice and conspiracy to obstruct justice charges
Court:
District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Atlanta
Next Steps:
The case will proceed to trial, where Onyema and Eghagha will face the additional charges.
References:
- U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Georgia
- Department of Justice
- District Court for the Northern District of Georgia
Glossary:
- Obstruction of Justice: interfering with an investigation or prosecution
- Conspiracy: agreeing to commit a crime with one or more persons
- Bank Fraud: deceiving or misleading financial institutions for financial gain
FAQs:
Q: What are the new charges against Allen Onyema?
A: Obstruction of justice and conspiracy to obstruct justice.
Q: Who is Onyema’s co-defendant?
A: Ejiroghene Eghagha, Air Peace’s Chief of Administration and Finance.
Q: What is the status of the case?
A: Onyema and Eghagha are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Key Stakeholders:
- U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Georgia
- Department of Justice
- District Court for the Northern District of Georgia
- Air Peace Airlines
- Allen Onyema and Ejiroghene Eghagha
Potential Impact:
- Significant financial losses for Air Peace Airlines
- Damage to Nigeria’s aviation industry reputation
- Increased scrutiny of Nigerian businesses operating internationally
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