ALLEGED FRAUD: US accuses Air Peace Onyema of obstruction of justice

Chief Executive Officer of a domestic carrier, Air Peace, Dr Allen Onyema, has been accused of obstruction of justice by the United States government.

The US attorney’s office, Northern District of Georgia, said Onyema alongside the airline's Chief of Administration and Finance, Mrs Ejiroghene Eghagha, submitted fake documents to government to put a stop to charges of bank fraud and money laundering against them.

The US Attorney Office, Northern District of Georgia, in a statement, said on October 8, 2024, they were both charged in a superseding indictment alleging an additional count of obstruction of justice and one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice.

Quoting U.S. Attorney Ryan Buchanan, the statement said: “After allegedly using his airline company (Air Peace) 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.

“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.”

Assistant Special Agent in Charge Lisa Fontanette, Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation Atlanta Field Office also said: “Allegedly, Onyema and his accomplices fraudulently used the U.S. banking system in an effort to hide the source of their ill-gotten money. 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 organisations.”

Recall that Onyema had already been charged with a slew of money laundering and bank fraud indictments by the US government.