Nigeria’s largest carrier, Air Peace, has expressed surprise over reports alleging that its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Allen Onyema, and Vice Chairman, Alice Onyema, are facing a tax evasion suit reportedly instituted by the Lagos State Government.
In a statement issued on Monday, the airline described the claims as unsubstantiated, noting that neither the company nor its principal officers had been served with any court summons or official notification regarding the alleged case.
The company questioned the credibility of reports suggesting that legal proceedings had been ongoing since February without any formal communication, describing the situation as both surprising and concerning.
Media reports had earlier claimed that the Lagos State revenue authorities initiated legal action over an alleged tax liability of N94m involving Onyema and his wife. The development was also linked to comments made by the airline chairman criticising federal tax reforms.
Reacting, Air Peace reaffirmed its commitment to regulatory compliance, stating that all its corporate and personal tax obligations have been fully settled and remain up to date in accordance with existing laws.
“We wish to state unequivocally that neither the Onyemas nor Air Peace has been served with any court summons or official notification regarding the purported suit,” the statement said.
The airline, however, expressed openness to dialogue, noting that it is willing to engage with the Lagos State Government to clarify and reconcile any potential discrepancies in tax computations in the interest of transparency and due process.
Air Peace also highlighted the contributions of its leadership to Nigeria’s aviation sector, noting that the Onyemas have continued to demonstrate resilience in sustaining operations despite challenging economic conditions.
The carrier added that it remains focused on delivering safe and reliable services to passengers and would not be distracted by what it described as unfounded allegations.
