* Air Peace ,Chairman, Allen Onyema
…Claims Unfounded, Strange
The Chairman of Air Peace Limited, Allen Onyema and the Executive Director Air Peace Limited, Mrs. Ejiro Eghahga have both denied all the allegations levelled against them by the United States Attorney in Atlanta, Georgia in relation to purchase of aircraft, aircraft spares and aircraft maintenance.
The allegations according to them are unfounded and strange to them.
This is just as they also stated that none of the allegations involve any third party funds but that it relate to his funds utilised in the airline business, adding that is no allegation that any bank in the United States, Nigeria or elsewhere suffered any financial loss.
The two officials made the denial in a statement issued by A.O. Alegeh & Co chambers and made available to journalists.
The statement reads, “On behalf of Allen Onyema and Mrs Ejiro Eghagha, we hereby state that he strongly denies and will vigorously defend himself against the allegations made against him by the US Attorney in Atlanta, Georgia in relation to purchase of Aircraft, Aircraft spares and Aircraft maintenance.
“None of the allegations involve any third party funds but relate to his funds utilized in the Airline business. There is no allegation that any Bank [in the United States, Nigeria or elsewhere], Company or individual suffered any financial or any loss whatsoever.”
He said that the allegations are unfounded and strange to him, adding that Onyema has a track record built on honesty and integrity and will take all necessary steps to clear his good name and hard earned reputation.
The statement also added that Mrs Ejiro Eghagha has built her reputation as a seasoned, honest and responsible person and will take all necessary steps to clear her good name and hard earned reputation.
The statement added that the Chairman and Eghagha, the looks forward to an opportunity to rebut these allegations in court.
Recalled that Onyema was indicted in the US for alleged bank fraud and money laundering.
The airline chief was alleged to have moved more than $20 million from Nigeria through US bank accounts in a scheme involving “false documents” based on the purchase of airplanes.
The Air Peace Chairman was accused alongside Eghagha, who is said to have committed aggravated identity theft in connection with the scheme.
A statement issued by the District Attorney’s Ofice on Friday, Onyema and Eghagha 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.
