The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Air Peace, Allen Onyema, has been cleared of business fraud allegations by a district court in Atlanta, following a three-year investigation that involved multiple U.S. government agencies. This ruling marks the conclusion of a legal battle in which Onyema maintained his innocence throughout.
Details of the Investigation
The investigation involved five U.S. government agencies and culminated in a ruling by the Northern District of Georgia’s Attorney. The court found no evidence of any financial loss to banks, refuting earlier claims of fraudulent activities. As part of the case, a former staff member of Springfield Aviation Company, Ebony Mayfield, was fined $4,000 and placed on probation after pleading guilty to one count related to Letters of Credit transactions.
Allegations and Legal Response
The case centered around allegations that Mayfield was paid $20,000 for her involvement in fraudulent activities, a claim which Onyema’s legal counsel, Augustine Alegeh & Co., firmly denied.
They emphasized that Mayfield was never paid the sum alleged and that no bank or third party suffered any financial loss as a result of the transactions.
According to the legal team, all payments made to Mayfield were her regular salary and allowances from Springfield Aviation.
Court Findings
The U.S. government confirmed in court that no bank incurred financial losses, clearing Onyema of any wrongdoing. The legal counsel reiterated that the Letters of Credit used in the transactions were handled lawfully and with legitimate funds. The aircraft involved were brought to Nigeria for use in Air Peace’s operations, further supporting the claim that no criminal intent was present.
