Allen Onyema, the CEO and Chairman of Air Peace, a prominent Nigerian airline, is facing serious new allegations in a recent superseding indictment. He is accused of obstructing justice by allegedly submitting false documents to authorities in a bid to impede an ongoing investigation into previous charges of bank fraud and money laundering.
Ejiroghene Eghagha, the airline’s Chief of Administration and Finance, is also named in this obstruction case and faces additional accusations linked to the original bank fraud charges.
Onyema and Eghagha were first indicted in 2019, facing multiple counts, including conspiracy to commit bank fraud, bank fraud, and money laundering. The alleged criminal activities involved using counterfeit documents to acquire aircraft and laundering over $16 million.
The recent charges indicate that Onyema may have attempted to mislead authorities again, this time by submitting false documents to derail the investigation.
This case is part of a broader initiative by law enforcement to tackle financial crimes and uphold the integrity of the U.S. banking system. Various agencies, including the DEA, IRS, and Homeland Security, are involved in the ongoing investigation.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia released a statement regarding the case on Friday. U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan commented, “After allegedly using his airline as a cover for fraud against the U.S. banking system, Onyema, alongside his co-defendant, reportedly committed further fraud to obstruct the investigation into their actions. The meticulous work of our federal partners unveiled this obstruction scheme, allowing for accountability for their attempts to hinder a federal inquiry.”
Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA’s Atlanta Division, emphasized the agency’s commitment to pursuing those involved in fraud and money laundering.
Assistant Special Agent in Charge Lisa Fontanette from the IRS Criminal Investigation Atlanta Field Office added, “Onyema and his associates allegedly exploited the U.S. banking system to obscure the origins of their illicit funds. Today’s new indictment highlights the dedication of IRS-CI agents and our law enforcement partners in dismantling threats posed by criminal organizations.”
The indictment details that Onyema, who founded Air Peace in 2013, frequently traveled to Atlanta between 2010 and 2018. He reportedly opened several personal and business bank accounts in the city, allegedly receiving over $44.9 million from international sources.
Starting around May 2016, Onyema and Eghagha allegedly orchestrated a scheme involving export letters of credit, resulting in over $20 million being funneled into Atlanta-based accounts controlled by Onyema. The letters purported to facilitate the purchase of five Boeing 737 aircraft for Air Peace, backed by what were claimed to be legitimate documents.
However, these documents were allegedly fabricated. The supposed seller, Springfield Aviation Company LLC, was owned by Onyema and operated by someone with no ties to the aviation industry. Furthermore, the company that supposedly issued the appraisals did not exist.
Eghagha allegedly played a key role in the scheme, instructing the Springfield Aviation manager to produce and submit false documentation to banks while even using her identity to further the fraud. Following the transfer of funds to the U.S., Onyema is accused of laundering over $16 million.
Upon learning of the investigation in May 2019, Onyema and Eghagha reportedly directed the Springfield Aviation manager to sign a critical business contract but instructed her not to date it. Later, they allegedly had their lawyers present this contract—falsely dated to May 5, 2016—to authorities in an attempt to obstruct the investigation and lift restrictions on their bank accounts.
Onyema, 61, and Eghagha, 42, both from Lagos, Nigeria, were initially indicted on November 19, 2019, facing numerous counts, including conspiracy to commit bank fraud and multiple counts of money laundering. The latest indictment, issued on October 8, 2024, includes an additional charge of obstruction of justice and a conspiracy to obstruct justice. The case is documented as criminal action number 1:19-CR-464.
The statement concluded with a reminder that the indictments are merely charges, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
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