- Dr. Allen Onyema, founder of the Nigerian airline Air Peace, provided the free flights
- He faces multiple charges related to millions of dollars in alleged fraud
Meghan and Prince Harry were flown for free across Nigeria by an airline whose chairman is a fugitive wanted in the US.
Dr. Allen Onyema, founder of Nigerian airline Air Peace, provided the Sussexes with free flights during their three-day tour of Nigeria to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Harry’s Invictus Games.
However, DailyMail.com exclusively revealed that he is also a wanted man in the US, and is facing multiple charges related to millions of dollars in alleged fraud, laid out in a federal indictment filed in November 2019.
Air Peace’s Stanley Olisa said the Sussexes got the ‘free flights’ from the CEO, along with ‘everything they wanted’ because ‘they are royals’.
Meghan and Prince Harry were flown around Nigeria for free by an airline whose chairman is a fugitive wanted in the US
Dr. Allen Onyema, founder of Nigerian airline Air Peace, provided the Sussexes with free flights during their three-day tour of Nigeria to celebrate 10 years of Harry’s Invictus Games (left dresses in navy blue)
The indictment accuses Onyema of “using his status as a prominent business leader and airline executive to launder more than $20 million from Nigeria through U.S. bank accounts.”
There is no indication that Harry or Meghan were aware of Onyema’s history before meeting him.
In total, the couple and their entourage flew 664 miles in a 120-seat plane, emitting about 12 tons of CO2.
Mr Olisa told the Mirror: “The planes were chartered. It was just the royals and their entourage. They did not fly with other passengers. We understand that they are royals, so we gave them first-class treatment on board. They got everything they wanted. It was an exclusive experience. And we flew them back to Abuja in the evening. Everything was free.’
He added: ‘The chairman of Air Peace gave Prince Harry and his wonderful wife Meghan free flights to Lagos and back as part of his contribution to the couple’s successful reception.’
In total, the couple and their entourage flew 664 miles on a 120-seat plane, emitting approximately 12 tons of CO2
Onyema is accused of using his status as a prominent business leader to launder more than $20 million from Nigeria through U.S. bank accounts.
During the visit, the couple visited a local charity and met military leaders, wounded soldiers and schoolchildren, all of whom welcomed them with smiles and enthusiasm.
Robert Murphy, the agent in charge of the DEA field division in Atlanta, said, “Allan Onyema’s status as a wealthy businessman turned out to be a fraud. He corrupted the American banking system, but his trail of deceit and deceit came to an abrupt halt.”
The indictment goes on to allege that Onyema engineered several “innocent-sounding multi-million dollar asset purchases that were nothing more than alleged fronts for his scam.”
It said Onyema is the founder and chairman of several organizations in Nigeria, including the Foundation for Ethnic Harmony, International Center for Non-Violence and Peace Development and All-Time Peace Media Communications Limited.
Air Peace’s Head of Administration and Finance, Ejiroghene Eghagha, has also been charged along with Onyema.
Both men were indicted on one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, three counts of wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit credit application fraud and three counts of credit application fraud. However, it is clear that they deny the claims.
The Sussexes and Air Peace have been contacted for comment.