News Americas, New York, NY, 16 October 2024: Antigua-based LIAT (2020) Limited has confirmed that its ownership and operations remain unaffected by the recent indictment of Dr. Allen Onyema, CEO of Nigeria-based Air Peace Limited, by US law enforcement authorities.
Onyema was charged by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Northern District of Georgia with obstruction of justice for filing false documents to stop an investigation into earlier charges of bank fraud and money laundering. Along with Onyema, Air Peace’s head of administration and finance, Ejiroghene Eghagha, was also charged with complicity in the earlier bank obstruction and fraud.
In a statement addressing the latest speculation, LIAT (2020) Limited stressed that the allegations against Onyema have no bearing on the company’s ownership or operations. The regional airline clarified that it is a joint venture between the Government of Antigua and Barbuda (GOAB) and Air Peace Caribbean Limited (APCL), a company incorporated in the country. GOAB owns 30% of the shares, while APCL owns 70%.
The statement further emphasized that APCL is fully separated from Air Peace Nigeria Ltd. and that Onyema has no shares, direction or involvement in either APCL or LIAT (2020) Ltd. “We emphasize that Mr. Onyema has no ownership stake in LIAT (2020) Ltd, and such claims are completely baseless,” the company reiterated.
LIAT (2020) assured its stakeholders that its commitment to providing reliable flight services across the Caribbean remains strong, unaffected by the ongoing legal issues involving Onyema.
Meanwhile, Air Peace Limited released a statement on its official X platform, asserting that both Onyema and Eghagha remain innocent of the charges. The airline confirmed that the legal process stems from long-standing allegations of financial misconduct and assured its customers that its operations would continue intact.
