The District Court in Atlanta, Georgia, has exonerated Allen Onyema, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Air Peace, of all fraud-related charges following a three-year investigation involving five U.S. government agencies.
Despite extensive legal scrutiny, the court found no evidence of wrongdoing or financial loss to any American bank, clearing Onyema of all allegations.
In the same ruling, the court imposed probation and a $4,000 fine on Ebony Mayfield, a former administrative staff member of Springfield Aviation Company Inc. Mayfield, who had limited knowledge of Letter of Credit transactions, pleaded guilty to a single count related to the case. The probation sentence is the lightest penalty available under U.S. Federal Law.
According to a statement from the law firm Augustine Alegeh & Co., representing Air Peace, Mayfield had acknowledged the complexity of explaining various Letters of Credit used to purchase aircraft for Air Peace during a jury trial. The firm emphasized that neither Onyema nor Air Peace incurred any loans or credits from American banks, contradicting false reports circulating in Nigeria.
“Our clients never took loans from any U.S. bank, and there was no fraud or financial loss to any party involved,” the firm clarified. “Mayfield, like other Springfield staff, was only paid her standard salary. Claims that she received $20,000 to commit fraud are entirely false.”
The court’s ruling supports the firm’s long-held position that no fraudulent intent existed in the transactions and that all funds used were legitimate. Air Peace confirmed that the aircraft purchased were legally imported into Nigeria and used for its operations.
“Our clients have maintained their innocence throughout the process, and various law enforcement agencies in Nigeria have reviewed the case without finding any evidence of criminality,” the firm stated, reaffirming Onyema’s complete exoneration.
