By Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s recent visit to Nigeria has taken a controversial turn as it was revealed that they were welcomed by a fugitive airline CEO who is currently wanted in the United States for his alleged involvement in a $20 million money laundering and bank fraud scheme. DailyMail.com can exclusively report that Dr. Allen Onyema, the CEO and Chairman of Air Peace, the airline the royal couple used for their flight from Abuja to Lagos on May 12, was among the small group of dignitaries who greeted the Duke and Duchess of Sussex upon their arrival.
Onyema, dressed in navy, wearing sunglasses and a red kufi hat, was photographed alongside the Sussexes as they disembarked from the Air Peace aircraft. Founded just over a decade ago by Onyema, Air Peace is the largest airline in West Africa, operating both domestic and international flights.
However, DailyMail.com has learned that the 59-year-old businessman is a wanted man in the United States, facing multiple charges related to millions of dollars’ worth of alleged fraud, as detailed in a federal indictment filed in November 2019. The indictment accuses Onyema of allegedly “using his status as a prominent business leader and airline executive to launder more than $20 million from Nigeria through US bank accounts.
It is important to note that there is no indication that either Harry or Meghan were aware of Onyema’s legal troubles before meeting him. DailyMail.com also understands that the couple had originally planned to use a different airline, but plans were changed at the last minute.
The charges against Onyema were initially filed by former US Attorney Byung J ‘BJay’ Pak, who has since left office. The case is now being pursued by US Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia, Ryan Buchanan, who took over the role in 2022.
At the time of filing, Pak stated, “Onyema allegedly leveraged his status as a prominent business leader and airline executive while using falsified documents to commit fraud.” Robert Murphy, the agent in charge of the DEA Atlanta field division, added, “Allan Onyema’s status as a wealthy businessman turned out to be a fraud. He corrupted the US banking system, but his trail of deceit and trickery came to a skidding halt.”
The indictment further alleges that Onyema set up various “innocent sounding multi-million-dollar asset purchases that were nothing more than alleged fronts for his scam.” It states that Onyema is the founder and chairman of several organizations across Nigeria, including the Foundation for Ethnic Harmony, the International Center for Non-Violence and Peace Development, and All-Time Peace Media Communications Limited.
According to the indictment, Onyema began traveling frequently to Atlanta in 2010, where he opened several personal and business bank accounts. Between 2010 and 2018, over $44.9 million was allegedly transferred into his Atlanta-based accounts from foreign sources.
Investigators allege that Onyema and his Chief of Administration and Finance, Ejiroghene Eghagha, used a series of export letters of credit to cause banks to transfer more than $20 million into Atlanta-based bank accounts controlled by Onyema, purportedly to fund the purchase of five Boeing 737 passenger planes by Air Peace. However, the supporting documents were allegedly fake, and the company that supposedly drafted the appraisals did not exist.
Both Onyema and Eghagha have been charged with various counts of conspiracy, bank fraud, credit application fraud, money laundering, and aggravated identity theft. The charges against them remain pending, with both men maintaining their innocence.
The revelation of Onyema’s legal troubles has cast a shadow over Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s visit to Nigeria, raising questions about the vetting process for their engagements and the individuals they associate with during their international trips.
Credit: DailyMail.com
