US Court Acquits Air Peace Boss, Allen: Fines Mayfield 4,000
After a three-year investigation led by multiple American government agencies and ensuing legal battles, the District Court in Atlanta, Georgia, has acquitted Chief Allen Onyema, the Chief Executive of Air Peace, of all charges related to business fraud.
In a significant ruling, the court found no financial loss to any bank in the indictment filed by the Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia. However, it imposed a $4,000 fine and probation on Ebony Mayfield, a former employee of Springfield Aviation Company Inc., on Friday. Mayfield, who served as an administrative staff member with limited knowledge of Letter of Credit Transactions, had pleaded guilty to one count in the indictment, according to a statement by Augustine Alegeh & Co., the legal counsel representing Air Peace.
The law firm explained that Mayfield’s guilty plea was likely driven by the complexity of explaining several Letters of Credit used in aircraft purchases for Air Peace Limited during a jury trial. It further emphasised that probation is the lowest possible sentence under American federal law.
The firm expressed concern over misleading media reports in Nigeria, noting, “Our clients never took loans or credit from any American bank, and Mayfield was never paid the sum of $20,000 to commit any fraud, as has been falsely reported by a section of the Nigerian press.”
It added, “There was no loss of money or any damage whatsoever to any third party. The American government admitted in court that no bank suffered any financial loss in the matter.”
Addressing the role of Mayfield, the law firm clarified that, like other staff members of Springfield Aviation, she was only compensated through her bi-weekly salary and allowances, dismissing any claims of illicit payments.
The ruling, according to the firm, validates their clients’ longstanding position that there was no fraudulent intent behind the Letters of Credit. “There was no victim in any way, manner, or form,” the firm noted, stressing that all funds involved were legitimate and belonged to Air Peace.
The case has garnered significant attention in Nigeria, but this ruling reaffirms that Chief Allen Onyema and his airline were not engaged in any fraudulent activities. No Fresh Case Filed Over Crude Oil Sales in Naira Initiative
