Business
Air Peace boss denies allegations of fraud by US
The Chairman/CEO of Air Peace, Allen Onyema, on Saturday denied allegations of bank and money laundering filed against him by the United States Justice Department.
The US Attorney’s Office in the Northern District of Georgia had on Friday accused Onyema of money laundering “for moving more than $20 million from Nigeria through U.S bank accounts in a scheme involving false documents for the purchase of airplanes.”
The US Department of Justice also claimed in a statement that Onyema’s Chief of Administration and Finance, Ejiroghene Eghagha, had also been charged with bank fraud and committing aggravated identity theft in connection with the scheme.
However, the Air Peace chairman described the allegations as false, saying they are not in any way related to his “character as a person and a businessman.”
He said in a statement on Saturday, that all the money transferred for the purchase of aircraft passed through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
Onyema said his lawyers are working on the allegations with the aim of refuting the claims.
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The statement read: “I can confirm to you that all allegations are false and are in no way in line with my character as a person and as a businessman whose only aim has been to build Nigeria and improve well-being.
“As the press statement clearly stated, these are indictments that only contain charges. I am innocent of all charges and the US government will find NO dirt on me because I have never conducted business with any illegalities.
“Be rest assured that I also have my lawyers on this and these mere allegations will be refuted.
“I never laundered money in my life, neither have I committed bank fraud anywhere in the world. Every Kobo I transferred to the US for aircraft purchase went through the Central Bank of Nigeria, and all were used for the same purpose.
“The American companies that received the funds are still in business. I never took a penny from any US bank or Nigerian bank. I am willing to defend my innocence in the US courts.”
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