October 12, 2024
By Samuel Ogunsona
The Chairman, CEO, and founder of Air Peace, a Nigerian airline, Allen Onyema, has been charged with obstruction of justice for allegedly submitting false documents to the government.
This move was reportedly an attempt to end an investigation into earlier charges of bank fraud and money laundering.
Ejiroghene Eghagha, Air Peace’s Chief of Administration and Finance, was also charged for participating in the obstruction scheme and the earlier bank fraud counts.
According to the superseding indictment, Onyema and Eghagha allegedly engaged in a scheme to obstruct the investigation, submitting false documents to the government.
The charges against Onyema and Eghagha are the latest development in an ongoing investigation into alleged financial improprieties.
According to a press statement released by the United State attorney office, “After allegedly using his airline company as a cover to commit fraud on the United States’ banking system, Onyema, along with his co-defendant, allegedly committed additional crimes of fraud in a failed attempt to derail the government’s investigation of his conduct,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “The diligence of our federal investigative partners revealed the defendants’ alleged obstruction scheme, making it possible for the defendants to be held accountable for their aggravated conduct of attempting to impede a federal investigation.”
“These cases represent the continued commitment of the Drug Enforcement Administration to identify and hold accountable those who engaged in fraud and money laundering,” said Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division.
“Allegedly, Onyema and his accomplices fraudulently used the U.S. banking system in an effort to hide the source of their ill-gotten money,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Lisa Fontanette, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Atlanta Field Office. “Today’s superseding indictment is indicative of the dedication IRS-CI special agents and our law enforcement partners have, as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces, to neutralize threats to the United States from criminal organizations.”
“The charges announced today demonstrate the criticality of diligence and truth in criminal justice proceedings,” said Steven N. Schrank, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations Atlanta that covers Georgia and Alabama. “HSI and our partners are committed to pursuing those who seek to exploit our nation’s financial system and any efforts to cover up illegal activity.”
