The USA is bringing new charges against Air Peace boss Onyema

Air Peace CEO Allen Onyema has been re-indicted by the United States for alleged obstruction of justice in an ongoing investigation.

In a supplemental indictment, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia accused Onyema and Air Peace’s chief administrative and financial officer, Ejiroghene Eghagha, of submitting false documents to thwart a federal investigation into their activities.

Both Onyema and Eghagha have been under surveillance since 2019 for suspected money laundering. Air Peace’s CEO is accused of using fraudulent documents to transfer more than $20 million from Nigeria through U.S. bank accounts under the guise of purchasing aircraft.

Eghagha is also charged with aggravated identity theft in connection with the scheme.

The U.S. Attorney in Atlanta, Georgia, Ryan Buchanan, issued a statement Friday detailing the new charges.

According to Buchanan, the two defendants allegedly attempted to obstruct justice by committing further fraudulent acts intended to disrupt the investigation.

“Using his airline as a cover, Onyema allegedly defrauded the U.S. banking system and later committed additional crimes alongside his co-defendant in a failed attempt to derail the government’s investigation into his conduct.”

“The diligence of our federal investigative partners uncovered the defendants’ alleged obstruction plans and ensured that they can now be held accountable for their serious conduct,” he said.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office revealed that starting in May 2016, Onyema and Eghagha allegedly used a series of export letters of credit to get banks to transfer over $20 million to accounts in Atlanta controlled by Onyema.

These funds were allegedly intended for the purchase of five Boeing 737 passenger aircraft for Air Peace.

The documents presented in support of these transactions, including sales contracts, purchase agreements and appraisals, were allegedly forged.

Investigations revealed that the aircraft were to be purchased from Springfield Aviation Company LLC, a Georgia-registered company owned by Onyema.

However, Springfield Aviation never owned the aircraft and the company was run by a person who had no ties to the aviation industry.