The Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (EFCC) has interrogated the Chief Executive Officer of Air Peace,
Mr. Allen Ifechukwu Onyema, over the alleged $44.9 million wire deals.
A former Special
Adviser/Coordinator of the Amnesty Programme Office is also on the watch list
and will be placed on INTERPOL red alert list.
The Nation reports that Onyema,
has been placed on administrative bail and remains under surveillance.
Among others, Onyema in the
unsealed indictment by the United States purchased an armoured Lexus LX570
($204,000); Rolls Royce ($180,000); and Mercedez Benz ($88,500) with laundered
money.
An EFCC source told the newspaper
that the probe of Onyema was part of the ongoing collaboration with the FBI and
other security networks on wire deals which involves Air Peace Finance Officer
Ejiroghene Eghagha and two banks were implicated.
The source said: “Our team of
detectives on Wednesday interacted with Onyema in our Lagos office on the wire
deals, especially on issues involving money laundering.
“The questioning was part of our
ongoing collaboration with the FBI and other agencies in line with the Mutual
Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) between Nigeria and the United States.
“We decided to release Onyema on
administrative bail in deference to his constitutional right of innocence until
proven guilty.
“But Onyema is on surveillance by
the EFCC pending the conclusion of the ongoing investigation.”
On why the probe started after
the United States indicted Onyema, the source said: “There are vital Nigerian
components of the indictment and demands of the US Government.
“For instance, the US is seeking
the forfeiture of over $13 million left in some accounts linked with the
suspect in the United States and Canada. The funds are $4,017,852.51 in JP
Morgan Chase Bank in the US and $4,593,842.05 and $5,634,842.04 in the Bank of
Montreal, Canada.
“We cannot rule out some of the
money in some accounts in Nigeria. And our investigation may reveal the
identities of other accomplices. Also, two Nigerian banks have been mentioned
in the wire deals, especially transactions on purchase of aircraft.
“If there are assets to be seized
in Nigeria, we have to collaborate with the US Government on the forfeiture
process.”
On involvement of former Special
Adviser/ Coordinator of the Amnesty Programme Office, EFCC said: “The suspect
has gone underground. We may have no choice but to watch-list the ex-Special
Adviser. We will eventually place him on INTERPOL red alert.
“Preliminary findings revealed a
nexus between the Amnesty Office and the activities of Onyema’s firms/groups/
NGOs as applicable.
“These groups include the
Foundation for Ethnic Harmony, International Centre for Non-Violence and Peace
Development, All-Time Peace Media Communications Limited and Every Child
Limited.
“Our detectives discovered that
the Foundation for Ethnic Harmony in Nigeria (FEHN) handled the training and
transformation of some former Niger Delta militants for both the Amnesty
Programme Office and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
“He blew about N170,100,000 (
$472,500) on three vehicles with cash transferred into his BOA 8086 account
from Nigerian and other foreign bank accounts. We want him to explain the
sources of the cash.”
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