The District Court in Atlanta acquitted Allen Onyema, CEO of Air Peace, of business fraud after a thorough investigation, declaring no financial loss to banks. However, Ebony Mayfield, a former employee, received a $4,000 fine and probation after pleading guilty to a single count related to the case.
The District Court in Atlanta, Georgia, has found Allen Onyema, CEO of Air Peace, not guilty of business fraud after a comprehensive investigation spanning three years. This inquiry involved several agencies of the U.S. government, culminating in the court's conclusion that no banks suffered financial losses related to the indictment by the Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia.
Although Onyema was acquitted, the court imposed a $4,000 fine and probation on Ebony Mayfield, a former employee of Springfield Aviation Company Inc. Mayfield, who had limited expertise in Letter of Credit transactions, pleaded guilty to one count of the indictment. Her decision to plead guilty likely stemmed from the challenges she faced in defending herself in a jury trial regarding the complex nature of the Letters of Credit used for acquiring aircraft for Air Peace.
According to the law firm Augustine Alegeh & Co., representing Air Peace, the company never engaged in any loans or credits from American banks. Additionally, Mayfield did not receive $20,000 for fraudulent activities, as speculated in various Nigerian reports. The firm stressed that the investigation confirmed no financial harm to any third parties, and all funds involved were legitimate.
The firm expressed relief at the court's verdict, maintaining that their clients acted with integrity throughout the transactions. They also confirmed that the aircraft obtained for Air Peace's operations were acquired legally, with no evidence of misconduct identified by Nigerian law enforcement.
