Why Us department of Justice is after the CEO of Air peace

Dboldnews. The united states department of Justice, on Friday , charged the Chairman and chief executive Officer of Air Peace, Mr . Allen Onyema , with financial institution fraud and money laundering for transferring extra than $ 20 m from Nigeria via usa bank bills in a scheme related to fake files primarily based on the acquisition of airplanes.

In a statement, the yankee government stated the airline ’ s chief of administration and Finance , Ejiroghene Eghagha , had also been charged with bank fraud and “ annoyed identity robbery” in connection with the scheme .

“ Onyema allegedly leveraged his reputation as a prominent enterprise chief and airline executive whilst the usage of falsified documents to dedicate fraud , ” US attorney Byung Pak , turned into quoted to have stated .

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“ we will diligently guard the integrity of our banking system from being corrupted by criminals, even when they disguise themselves in a cloak of worldwide business, ” he added .

In keeping with Pak , the indictment , and other facts offered in court docket, beginning in 2010 , Onyema began visiting regularly to Atlanta, in which he opened several non-public and commercial enterprise bank debts . Between 2010 and 2018 , over $ forty four . 9 m became allegedly transferred into his Atlanta-primarily based bills from foreign assets .

“ beginning in about may also 2016 , Onyema , collectively with Eghagha , allegedly used a chain of export letters of credit score to motive banks to switch extra than $20 m into Atlanta-based financial institution accounts controlled by way of Onyema .

“ The letters of credit score were purportedly to fund the purchase of five separate Boeing 737 passenger planes by using Air Peace. The letters had been supported through documents along with purchase agreements, payments of sale , and value determinations proving that Air Peace turned into purchasing the plane from Springfield Aviation employer LLC, a business registered in Georgia, ” the announcement reads in element .

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It said that, but, the assisting files had been faux as Springfield Aviation organisation LLC, that is owned by using Onyema and controlled by way of a person without a connection to the aviation business, in no way owned the aircraft, and the company that allegedly drafted the appraisals did no longer exist.

“ Eghagha allegedly participated on this scheme as nicely , directing the Springfield Aviation supervisor to sign and send false documents to banks or even the usage of the supervisor ’ s identity to similarly the fraud.

“ After Onyema obtained the money within the u.S. , he allegedly laundered over $ 16 m of the proceeds of the fraud by way of moving it to other bills, ” it introduced .

Onyema , however , denied the allegations, describing them as false.

In a declaration, Onyema stated, “ I confirm to you that all allegations are false and are in no way consistent with my individual as a person and as a commercial enterprise man whose most effective goal has been to build Nigeria and enhance wellness .

“ As the clicking assertion surely stated , these are indictments that simplest contain charges.

“ i'm innocent of all costs and the us authorities will locate no dust on me because i've in no way performed enterprise with any illegalities . ”

Onyema stated his lawyers had taken over the case .

“ I never laundered money in my existence , neither have I committed bank fraud anywhere in the world. Each Kobo I transferred to the usa for plane purchase went through the imperative bank of Nigeria LC regime and all have been used for the identical purpose .

“ the american agencies that acquired the finances are still in enterprise. I by no means took a penny from any US financial institution or Nigerian bank.

“ i am willing to defend my innocence within the US courts , ” Onyema stated .