US Court Exonerates Air Peace CEO Allen Onyema, Fines Former Employee $4,000

By Iyojo Ameh

A U.S. District Court in Atlanta, Georgia, has acquitted the Chairman and CEO of Nigerian airline Air Peace, Allen Onyema, of business fraud charges after a protracted three-year investigation.

This case, involving multiple U.S. federal agencies, came to a close with Onyema fully exonerated, bringing relief to the Nigerian aviation industry.

The court’s ruling revealed that no financial loss had been suffered by any U.

S. bank, a crucial point in the fraud allegations initially brought against Onyema by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia.

However, in connection with the case, the court ordered a $4,000 fine and probation for Ebony Mayfield, a former administrative staff member of Springfield Aviation Company Inc.

Mayfield, who had limited knowledge of the Letter of Credit transactions central to the case, pleaded guilty to one count, opting not to contest the charges further. Her guilty plea is seen as an acknowledgment of the difficulty in navigating the complex financial transactions involved in the purchase of aircraft for Air Peace.

A statement from the law firm Augustine Alegeh & Co., representing Air Peace, clarified the circumstances surrounding Mayfield’s involvement. According to the firm, she had no significant role in the financial dealings and was not paid $20,000 to engage in any fraudulent activities, contrary to reports circulating in some sections of the Nigerian press. Mayfield’s probation sentence, the firm noted, was the lowest possible under U.S. federal law.

“Our clients never took loans or credit from any American bank, and Mayfield was never compensated with the alleged $20,000 to commit fraud. There was no loss of money or damage to any third party,” the statement emphasized. The U.S. government admitted in court that no bank had suffered a financial loss in connection with the case.

The law firm also highlighted that all funds used in the transactions were legitimate and belonged to their clients, reiterating that the Letters of Credit were executed in good faith. “Our clients maintain their innocence in the matter, affirming that all steps taken regarding the Letters of Credit were done with legitimate funds. All aircraft purchased were brought into Nigeria and used for Air Peace operations.”

The firm further stressed that Nigerian law enforcement agencies had reviewed the case and found no evidence of criminality on the part of Onyema or his associates.

Despite the conclusion of the case, the law firm expressed concern over unsubstantiated media reports in Nigeria that had suggested otherwise, reaffirming the airline’s commitment to transparency and lawful business practices.