Allen Ifechukwu Onyema // CON[1] (born 1964) is a Nigerian lawyer and entrepreneur.[2] He is the Chief Executive Officer of Air Peace Limited, which he established in 2013.[3][4][5][6]
Early life
editHe was born in March 1964 in Benin City to Michael and Helen Onyema as the first of nine children. He hails from Mbosi in Ihiala Local Government Area Anambra State, Nigeria.[7][8][9]
Education
editAllen studied law at the University of Ibadan and graduated in 1987. He attended the Nigerian Law School and was called to Bar in 1989.[10][11] He attended several schools including Government College, Ughelli, Delta state. He left Government College in 1984 having obtained his Higher School Certificate and was directly offered admission to read law at the Nigeria's premier university, The University of Ibadan in the same year. It was in the University of Ibadan that his appetite for peace made him to lead a group of nine other students to travel to the ancient city of Zaria to quell a raging religious and ethnic riot that claimed lives. As a result of the publicity, he and his colleagues received on return to their campus, their enthusiasm grew, and this led to the formation of a group known then as Eminent Friends’ Group – a group formed with the objectives of promoting ethnic harmony amongst Nigeria’s diverse ethnic nationalities and fighting the incidence of violence of all forms. Upon graduation from the university in 1987, he established branches of the organization in all the states of the federation. While in the Nigerian law school in 1987, he combined his studies with social activism bothering on engendering peace in Nigeria. In 2013, he founded the Air Peace limited with its headquarters in Nigeria.[12]
Indictment
editIn 2019, the US Department of Justice issued an indictment against Allen Onyema, on the grounds of money laundering and bank fraud.[13] Onyema was accused of falsifying documents used for the purchase of airplanes for Air Peace and using those to fund purchases of luxury cars and high-end shopping.[14] Onyema denies these allegations.[15]
In October 2022, his alleged co-conspirator pleaded guilty and was sentenced to a fine and 3 years probation.[16] Onyema and the Chief Financial Officer of Air Peace remain charged with 36 counts of criminality.[17]
In October 2024, Onyema was additionally charged with two counts of obstructing justice and conspiracy to obstruct justice, due to his alleged falsification of documents used in his defense against the original charges.[18]
Personal life
editOnyema married his wife, Alice Ojochida Onyema (née Ejembi) from the Igala tribe of Kogi State, in 1993, and together they have four children.[19]
References
edit- ^ "Completes Full List of Nigeria's National Honours Award for 2022". TheComment Newspaper. 4 October 2022. Archived from the original on 4 October 2022. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
- ^ "I have never been so honoured in my life, Air Peace boss, Onyema tells Reps". Punch Newspapers. 18 September 2019. Archived from the original on 11 December 2019. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
- ^ "Social media don choose 'Nigeria man of di year'". 13 September 2019. Archived from the original on 9 December 2020. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
- ^ "Air Peace chairman Allen Onyema indicted for fraud, money laundering". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 23 November 2019. Archived from the original on 23 November 2019. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
- ^ Adebayo, Bukola (13 September 2019). "Nigerians return home, fleeing xenophobic attacks in South Africa". CNN. Archived from the original on 6 October 2019. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
- ^ "Air Peace CEO, Allen Onyema, opens up on alleged $20m fraud in America". Pulse Nigeria. 23 November 2019. Archived from the original on 25 April 2024. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
- ^ "15 facts about the Air Peace boss, Allen Onyema". P.M. News. 15 September 2019. Archived from the original on 26 September 2019. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
- ^ "15 things you should know about Onyema Allen Air Peace boss". The Nation Newspaper. 13 September 2019. Archived from the original on 6 December 2019. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
- ^ "Allen Onyema: Winner of L&M Leader of the Month Award » Tribune Online". Tribune Online. 30 September 2019. Archived from the original on 9 December 2019. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
- ^ "Allen Onyema: Nigeria's Cullinan One". ThisDayLive. 28 October 2019. Archived from the original on 20 March 2020. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
- ^ "The man Allen Onyema". guardian.ng. Archived from the original on 26 September 2019. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
- ^ "Home | flyairpeace.com". flyairpeace.com. Archived from the original on 20 April 2024. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
- ^ "CEO of Nigerian airline indicted for bank fraud and money laundering". US Department of Justice. 22 November 2019. Archived from the original on 18 March 2022. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
- ^ "Airline founder accused of bank fraud and laundering money to shop for jets, a Rolls-Royce and Prada". CNN. 24 November 2019. Archived from the original on 3 March 2022. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
- ^ "Air Peace Founder, Onyema denies alleged $20 million bank fraud". NairaMetrics. 23 November 2019. Archived from the original on 4 November 2021. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
- ^ "US court sentences Allen Onyema's alleged fraud conspirator to three years probation". www.premiumtimesng.com. Archived from the original on 2 April 2024. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
- ^ "US woman sentenced in Nigerian aircraft deal". ch-aviation. Archived from the original on 2 April 2024. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
- ^ "CEO of Nigerian Airline and Co-Defendant Indicted for Obstruction of Justice". US Department of Justice. 11 October 2024.
- ^ Kerley, George (21 June 2019). "Allen Onyeama: A salute to commitment, resilience, enterprise and excellence". TheCable. Retrieved 23 June 2024.