SAN FRANCISCO, November 23, (THEWILL) – A United States magistrate has approved a warrant for the arrest of Allen Onyema, the chairman and founder of Nigeria’s largest airline, Air Peace and Ejiroghene Eghagha, Air Peace’s Head of Finance and Administration, following their indictment for alleged money laundering and bank fraud.
Onyema is accused of using the US financial system to launder millions of dollars which went into purchase of airplanes as well as finance his personal expenses. He is also accused by the Department of Justice of allegedly filing fake documents with banks in the United States to legitimize the moneys in accounts he operated.
The businessman says he is innocent and will aggressively defend the charges in court to prove his innocence.
He is charged alongside Eghagha on multiple charges of felony.
Mr. Onyema is resident in Nigeria and it remains unclear whether the United States government will activate the mutual legal extradition treaty it has with Nigeria.
The US government seeks to confiscate over $10 million dollars belonging to Mr. Onyema and his companies if convicted. Some of the monies in a bank account in a Canada bank.
