US Court Clears Air Peace CEO Allen Onyema Of Fraud Allegations.
The Chief Executive Officer of Air Peace, Allen Onyema, has been exonerated of business fraud charges by an Atlanta district court, following a three-year investigation involving five US government agencies. The ruling brings an end to the allegations that have surrounded the Air Peace boss.
The court found no evidence of financial loss to any bank in the indictment filed by the Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia. The case involved former Springfield Aviation Company employee Ebony Mayfield, who was ordered to pay a $4,000 fine and placed on probation after pleading guilty to one count. It was reported that Mayfield’s guilty plea stemmed from the complexity of explaining Letters of Credit transactions in a jury trial.
Allen Onyema’s legal team, Augustine Alegeh & Co., dismissed reports circulating in Nigeria that claimed Mayfield had received $20,000 for fraudulent activities. The American authorities also confirmed that no bank had suffered financial losses as a result of the case.
“Our clients never took loans or credit from any American bank, and Mayfield was never paid the sum of $20,000 to commit fraud, as some reports have suggested,” the legal counsel clarified. “Mayfield, like other Springfield Aviation Company Inc. staff, was only paid her regular salary and allowances.”
The legal team also reiterated that Onyema and his associates acted in good faith throughout the transactions related to the Letters of Credit and used legitimate funds. “All the aircraft involved were brought into Nigeria and used in the operations of Air Peace Limited. There was no victim, no loss of funds, and no criminal intent.”
Onyema’s position has been reviewed by various law enforcement agencies in Nigeria, with no evidence of wrongdoing found. His legal counsel emphasised that he remains resolute in maintaining his innocence.
