By Chinelo Obogo
An aviation consultant, Chike Stanley, the Chief Executive Officer of Helicopter Services Ltd, has urged greater support for Air Peace and its founder, Allen Onyema, in light of the U.S. government’s charges against him. He highlighted that the future stability of Nigeria’s aviation industry hinges on the success of the airline and requires legitimate support to remain operational.
Addressing the latest charges against the airline’s Chief Executive Officer, he emphasised that Air Peace has made significant contributions to Nigeria’s aviation sector. He praised Onyema’s leadership, noting that it has propelled the airline to become a dominant force in the industry. The growth, he explained, has been instrumental in enhancing Nigeria’s bilateral air service agreements (BASA) and in lowering airfares for consumers.
Last Friday, the U.S. government accused Onyema of obstructing justice, with prosecutors alleging that he submitted forged documents in an attempt to impede an investigation into earlier charges of bank fraud and money laundering. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia accused him and the Chief of Finance and Administration of the airline, Mrs. Ejiro Eghagha, of using fake export letters of credit to transfer over $20 million to Atlanta-based accounts controlled by Onyema in 2016.
Following the announcement of the new charges, Air Peace swiftly issued a statement denying the allegations, asserting that they are part of an ongoing legal process related to earlier claims of financial misconduct. “Both Dr. Onyema and Mrs. Eghagha maintain their innocence, and these are merely allegations. Our legal team is working tirelessly to ensure justice prevails, and we are confident that through due process, the truth will be revealed,” the airline said.
Responding to the fresh charges, however, Stanley said Onyema has faced repeated scrutiny and disparagement from foreign authorities and the Western media, which he believes is a threat to Nigeria’s aviation sector. He speaks more on the raging legal battle between the U.S. government and Air Peace.
How Air Peace stabilised Nigeria’s air travel market
Onyema is one of Nigeria’s most hard-working entrepreneurs, and his airline, Air Peace, has not only redefined the aviation landscape but has also provided immense relief to millions of Nigerians. He has grown Air Peace into a dominant force that competes directly with global airlines. Yet, despite his monumental contributions to Nigeria’s aviation sector, he is repeatedly subjected to scrutiny and disparagement from foreign authorities and Western media. This ongoing attack on Onyema is not just an attack on an individual but a blatant affront to the Nigerian aviation sector, and it calls for urgent action from all stakeholders.
At a time when the cost of air travel was skyrocketing, seemingly without bounds, it was Air Peace that stepped in to stabilise the market. Nigerians had been at the mercy of astronomical airfares as foreign carriers monopolised major routes. The ripple effect was devastating, limiting the capacity of the average citizen to fly and stifling the growth of the nation’s aviation industry. However, Air Peace disrupted this narrative, and by offering competitive pricing and expanding its domestic, regional, and international reach, it provided Nigerians with an affordable and reliable alternative.
The success of Air Peace’s international routes, including the commencement of flights to London Gatwick, is a testament to its pivotal role in strengthening Nigeria’s bilateral air service agreements (BASA). The push by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, to secure favourable BASA routes would not have had the same impact without the involvement of Air Peace. The airline’s presence on international routes—especially with major destinations like London—challenged long-standing monopolies and helped reduce fares that had been skyrocketing.
FG and stakeholders must defend the aviation sector
If I were a member of the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), I would not sit idly while one of our members faces such scrutiny. Air Peace is the pride of Nigeria’s aviation sector, representing our collective ambition to compete on the global stage. The airline is a symbol of our capacity to build and sustain world-class businesses that challenge global giants, providing critical services at home and abroad.
This is the time for the Nigerian government, aviation regulators, and all industry stakeholders to reject any agenda—whether foreign or domestic—that seeks to tarnish the achievements of one of our entrepreneurs. The aviation roadmap for Nigeria, painstakingly dreamt by Keyamo and being charted by Onyema and others, must not be derailed by baseless accusations.