Allen Onyema exonerated of fraud charges by U.S. court

The District Court in Atlanta, Georgia has officially exonerated Allen Onyema, the Chief Executive Officer of Air Peace, from any business fraud accusations after a three-year investigation involving multiple American government agencies.

Despite extensive legal scrutiny, the court found no evidence of financial loss to any banks in the indictment filed by the Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia.

In a related development, a former administrative staff of Springfield Aviation Company Inc., Ebony Mayfield, was sentenced to probation and fined $4,000 last Friday.

Mayfield, who had limited knowledge of Letter of Credit Transactions, pleaded guilty to one count, likely due to the complex nature of several Letters of Credit used for the purchase of aircraft for Air Peace Limited.

The law firm representing Air Peace, Augustine Alegeh & Co., clarified that probation is the lowest possible sentence under U.S. Federal Law.

It also addressed the spread of false and unsubstantiated reports in Nigeria regarding the indictment, reaffirming Onyema’s exoneration.

“Our clients never took loans or credit from any American Bank and Mayfield was never paid the sum of $20,000 at any time to commit any fraud, as it is being peddled in some quarters.

“There was no loss of money or any damage whatsoever to any third party. The American government admitted in Court that no bank suffered any financial loss in the matter.

“Mayfield, like other Springfield Aviation Company Inc. staff, was only paid her bi-weekly salary and/or allowances,” it clarified.

According to the firm, the decision confirmed the position of its clients that there was no fraudulent intent in all the Letters of Credit, because there was no victim in any way, manner or form.

All the funds involved, it explained, were legitimate funds belonging to its clients “Our clients maintain their innocence in the matter and state that all steps taken in respect of the Letters of Credit were taken in good faith and with legitimate funds.

“All the aircraft involved were brought into Nigeria and utilised in the operations of Air Peace Limited. There was no victim. There was no loss of funds to any person and there was no criminal intent whatsoever.

“Our client’s position has been reviewed by various Law Enforcement Agencies in Nigeria and no evidence of criminality has been established against them. Our Clients remain resolute in the assertion of their innocence,” the firm declared.