Air Peace has denied any wrongdoing by its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Allen Onyema, and Chief of Finance and Administration, Mrs. Ejiro Eghagha, who have been charged by the United States for alleged obstruction of justice.
A statement released by the US Attorney’s Office said that Onyema has been charged in a superseding indictment with obstruction of justice for submitting false documents to the government to end an investigation of him that resulted in earlier charges of bank fraud and money laundering.
Also charged is Eghagha, the airline’s Chief of Administration and Finance, for allegedly participating in the obstruction scheme, as well as in the earlier bank fraud counts.
This adds to an earlier $20 million bank fraud charge against Onyema, which has been ongoing for the last five years.
He was accused of submitting false documents to US authorities in 2019 in an effort to stop the investigation and unfreeze his bank accounts regarding the alleged $20 million bank fraud.
Responding to the latest charge of ‘justice obstruction’ against its CEO Onyema and Chief of Finance and Administration, Eghagha, Air Peace in a statement on Sunday, insisted that the duo are innocent of all accusations.
The airline noted that the latest charges against Onyema and Eghagha are part of an extended legal process stemming from earlier accusations of financial misdeeds that date back several years.
It added that its legal team is fully engaged with the matter and is working tirelessly to ensure that justice prevails.
The statement reads, “Air Peace Limited is aware of the recent media reports concerning our esteemed Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Allen Ifechukwu Onyema and Chief of Finance and Administration, Mrs. Ejiro Eghagha in line with the latest legal charges filed by the U.S. Department of Justice. We understand that this may have raised concerns, and we wish to address these reports directly.
“These charges leveled against our post-holders are part of an extended legal process stemming from earlier accusations of financial misdeeds that date back several years.
“While the charges have been expanded, it is essential to emphasize that both Dr. Onyema and Mrs. Eghagha remain innocent and these are mere allegations, and the case is still in court. Our legal team is fully engaged with the matter and is working tirelessly 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.
“It is important to note that Dr. Onyema and his legal team have consistently cooperated with authorities throughout this process, and Air Peace continues to operate without disruption, upholding our commitment to delivering top-notch services to our valued customers.
“We want to reassure the public that these legal proceedings will not impact the safety, reliability, or day-to-day operations of Air Peace. The dedication and focus of our staff remain steadfast as we continue to provide you with the best aviation experience in Nigeria and beyond.
“We thank our customers and flying public for your continued support and understanding during this time, and we remain committed to serving you with excellence and integrity.”
