The United States government has charged the founder of Nigerian airline, Air Peace, Allen Onyema, with an alleged $20 million fraud and money laundering, the US Department of Justice, announced on Friday in a statement.
According to U.S. prosecutors, in 2010, Mr Onyema opened several bank accounts in the U.S. and moved over $44.9 million into the accounts domiciled at Atlanta. In May 2016, Mr Onyema alongside Mr Eghagha, prosecutors said, allegedly used a series of export letters of credit to transfer more than $20 million into the bank accounts. The letters were used to fund the purchase of five Boeing 737 passenger planes.
“Onyema allegedly leveraged his status as a prominent business leader and airline executive while using falsified documents to commit fraud,” said Byung Pak, a US attorney “This case is a prime example of why IRS-CI seeks to partner and leverage its expertise in an effort to thwart those seeking to exploit our nation’s financial system,” added Thomas J. Holloman, IRS-Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Field Office.
Too bad for him. The worst time to do fraud is right now, once your name enters the internet for fraud. All the reputation built over the years is shattered. For me, that's worse than going to jail.
Hahaha.... Igbo kwenu... I salute you people...
Not again
Say what
... and uncovering of what was probably hidden. The patriotic act of lifting Nigerians from SA might be a calculated move to prepare for a moment such as this. Thank God EFCC was not the agency that broke the news. You can imagine the narratives we will be hearing by now
What I can deduce from the write-up is that the search light of the security agencies were beamed on him in 2018 when a relatively unknown airline from Africa suddenly ordered Boeing Max 737. To them it all scream of RED FLAG. That led to the investigation of prior transactions
Pls pls pls Onyema should board the next flight to Atlanta to defend himself. If he says he did nothing wrong then he has indicted his bank & CBN for the alleged fake Letter of Credits & invoices (only CBN can issue) he submitted to American banks.
Onyema know his enemies from Nigeria to the US... Witch hunter!!!
Next thing is for tribal and ethnic Lilliputians to say because he is of a certain tribe that's why they are persecuting him. Meanwhile, the report from that investigation reveals an elaborate fraudulent scheme. Very bad.
It an allegation and the airpeace boss have come out to debunk same. Even Donald trump was charge for fraud and he was vindicated in the end.
Too bad for him. The worst time to do fraud is right now, once your name enters the internet for fraud. All the reputation built over the years is shattered. For me, that's worse than going to jail.
Lol
JenoJunior
That the US Department indicted Air Peace Chairman of fraud does not mean he is guilty. Let us wait for his defence/reaction. After all, Donald Trump is still fighting off his indictment over alleged tax fraud.
Why do feel so restrained to comment on this!! Something wrong feels so much right.....
This was a loan from Fidelity Bank. Enemies will hunt this gentle man to rubbish him. Why not go after our minister of petroleum for over four years and other political criminals?
Abeg face those laundering millions from public funds