After a thorough three-year investigation involving multiple U.S. government agencies, the District Court in Atlanta, Georgia, has cleared the Chief Executive Officer of Air Peace, Chief Allen Onyema, of all allegations of business fraud. This legal development follows extensive legal proceedings and investigations that were initiated by the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia.
The court determined that no financial losses were incurred by any bank in connection with the indictment against Onyema. However, Ebony Mayfield, a former employee of Springfield Aviation Company Inc., was placed on probation and fined $4,000. Mayfield, who had limited experience with Letter of Credit Transactions, pleaded guilty to one count in the indictment. This plea came after it became apparent that she would not be able to explain the complexities of several Letters of Credit used for the acquisition of aircraft for Air Peace Limited during a jury trial.
According to a statement from the law firm Augustine Alegeh & Co., which represents Air Peace, Mayfield’s probation is the lowest possible sentence under U.S. federal law. The firm also debunked media reports that had circulated in Nigeria, claiming that Onyema had taken out loans or engaged in fraudulent dealings.
“Our clients did not take any loans or credit from American banks. Furthermore, Ebony Mayfield never received the $20,000 alleged to have been used for fraudulent purposes, as falsely reported by some Nigerian media outlets,” the law firm clarified.
The firm emphasized that there was no financial loss or harm to any third party, with the U.S. government itself acknowledging in court that no bank had suffered any loss. It further clarified that Mayfield, like other staff at Springfield Aviation, only received her regular bi-weekly salary and allowances.
The court’s decision reinforces the position of Air Peace and its legal team that there was no fraudulent intent behind any of the Letters of Credit transactions. All the funds involved were legitimate and belonged entirely to Air Peace.
This ruling puts an end to years of legal scrutiny and speculation surrounding Onyema’s business activities, offering a clear exoneration from the fraud charges initially leveled against him.
