The management of Air Peace has issued a statement addressing the recent fraud charges brought against its CEO, Allen Onyema, and CFO, Ejiro Eghagha, by the U.S. Department of Justice.
The airline acknowledged that the matter is currently in court and emphasized that the charges are mere allegations, not convictions.
The charges stem from earlier accusations of financial misdeeds that date back several years. Air Peace reassured the public that their legal team is actively engaged in the matter, working 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,” the statement read.
Onyema and his legal team have consistently cooperated with authorities throughout the process. Despite the ongoing legal proceedings, Air Peace has continued to operate without disruption, upholding its commitment to effective services. The airline wants to reassure the public that the legal proceedings will not impact the safety, reliability, or day-to-day operations of Air Peace.
It’s worth noting that Onyema has been facing indictment charges since 2019 for allegedly falsifying documents used for the purchase of airplanes for Air Peace and using those to fund purchases of luxury cars and high-end shopping ¹. However, Onyema denies these allegations. In October 2022, his alleged co-conspirator pleaded guilty and was sentenced to a fine and 3 years probation. Onyema and the Chief Financial Officer of Air Peace remain charged with 36 counts of criminality.
