LAGOS, Nov 23 (Reuters) - The founder and CEO of one of
Nigeria's largest airlines, Air Peace, has been indicted by the
U.S. Department of Justice on charges of bank fraud and money
laundering for the alleged illegal movement of more than $20
million, the department said.
Allen Onyema was accused of transferring the money from
Nigeria through U.S. bank accounts in a scheme involving false
documents based on the purchase of airplanes, the justice
department said in a statement dated Nov. 22.
The airline's chief of administration and finance,
Ejiroghene Eghagha, has also been charged with bank fraud and
identity theft in connection with the alleged scheme, the
statement said.
Both Onyema and Eghagha denied any wrongdoing in statements
issued by their lawyers, adding that they would defend
themselves against the allegations.
"Onyema allegedly leveraged his status as a prominent
business leader and airline executive while using falsified
documents to commit fraud," U.S. Attorney Byung J. Pak was
quoted as saying by the Department of Justice.
Legal firm A.O. Alegeh & Co. said "the allegations are
unfounded and strange," in statements on behalf of each of the
accused. It added they both looked forward to "an opportunity to
rebut these allegations in court".
Air Peace, founded by Onyema in 2010, flies to destinations
across Nigeria as well as international routes to other West
African countries including Ghana, Sierra Leone and Senegal.
Onyema, 56, of Lagos, and Eghagha, 37, also of Lagos, were
indicted on Nov. 19 on one count of conspiracy to commit bank
fraud, three counts of bank fraud, one count of conspiracy to
commit credit application fraud, and three counts of credit
application fraud, the department.
Onyema was also charged with 27 counts of money laundering,
and Eghagha was charged with one count of aggravated identity
theft.