The CEO of Nigerian Airline Air Peace has been charged with money laundering and bank fraud after he was caught moving over $20 million from Nigeria to USA using falsified documents to do so, in a bid to make the transfers look like legit business transactions.
The international airline’s Chief of Administration and Finance, Ejiroghene Eghagha, has also been charged with bank fraud and committing aggravated identity theft in connection to the crimes committed by Allen. According to US Attorney Byung J. “BJay” Pak, “Onyema allegedly leveraged his status as a prominent business leader and airline executive while using falsified documents to commit fraud,” according to a Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division, he said that Allen Onyema’s status as a wealthy businessman turned out to be a fraud.
He corrupted the U.S. banking system, but his trail of deceit and trickery came to a skidding halt. It was also reported that Onyema is the founder of several organisations in Nigeria that promote peace across Nigeria, including the Foundation for Ethnic Harmony, International Center for Non-Violence and Peace Development, and All-Time Peace Media Communications Limited.
He was also accused of purchasing airplanes from money meant for his foundations such as when he used over $3 million of the funds used to purchase the aircraft allegedly came from bank accounts for Foundation for Ethnic Harmony, International Center for Non-Violence and Peace Development, All-Time Peace Media Communications Limited, and Every Child Limited.
Allen Ifechukwu Athan Onyema, 56, of Lagos, Nigeria, and Ejiroghene Eghagha, 37, of Lagos, Nigeria, were indicted on November 19, 2019, on one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, three counts of bank fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit credit application fraud, and three counts of credit application fraud.
Additionally, Onyema was charged with 27 counts of money laundering, and Eghagha was charged with one count of aggravated identity theft. However amidst all these charges, the members are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court without reasonable doubt.
Source: http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
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