The Chairman of Air Peace, Allen
Onyema, has dissociated himself from a suit against President Muhammadu Buhari
government by an activist, Johnmary Jideobi, over his indictment in the United
States.
The Abuja based lawyer had
dragged the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) before a Federal High
Court in Abuja over an alleged move to extradite Onyema.
He requested for an order of the
court restraining any agency of government with prosecutorial powers as
represented by AGF from attempting to use or seeking to harass, threaten,
arrest or invite Onyema in relation to Civil Aviation contract he entered with
American authorities through his companies.
The fundamental human rights
enforcement suit against AGF was filed by Jideobi as a Concerned Nigerian
Citizen.
In a statement on Wednesday,
Onyema’s lawyers, A.O Alegeh & Co., said their client had no hand in the
suit.
It reads: “The attention of our
client, Allen Onyema has been drawn to news reports now trending in the social
media suggesting that an Abuja based Legal Practitioner, Mr. Johnmary C.
Jideobi, has instituted an action in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1446/2019 – Johnmary
C. Jideobi v. Federal Government of Nigeria & Ors at the Federal High
Court, Abuja Division, purportedly seeking the enforcement of our client’s
fundamental human rights.
“We hereby state on behalf of our
client, that at no time did he instruct the said Mr. Johnmary C. Jideobi to
institute any action on his behalf in respect of the subject matter of the
Indictment now pending against him in the United States of America. Our Client
has no knowledge of the said action and did not consent to the filing of the
same. As a matter of fact, Our Client does not know the said Mr. Johnmary C.
Jideobi.”
Last Friday, the US Depart of
Justice said Onyema began travelling frequently to Atlanta, where he opened
several personal and business bank accounts. Between 2010 and 2018, over $44.9
million was allegedly transferred into his Atlanta-based accounts from foreign
sources.
Noting that Onyema founded Air
Peace in 2013 and subsequently travelled to the United States to purchase
multiple aeroplanes for the airline, DoJ said: “Over $3 million of the funds
used to purchase the aircraft allegedly came from bank accounts for Foundation
for Ethnic Harmony, International Center for Non-Violence and Peace
Development, All-Time Peace Media Communications Limited, and Every Child
Limited.
“Beginning in approximately May
2016, Onyema, together with Eghagha, allegedly used a series of export letters
of credit to cause banks to transfer more than $20 million into Atlanta-based
bank accounts controlled by Onyema. The letters of credit were purported to
fund the purchase of five separate Boeing 737 passenger planes by Air Peace.
The letters were supported by documents such as purchase agreements, bills of
sale, and appraisals proving that Air Peace was purchasing the aircraft from
Springfield Aviation Company LLC, a business registered in Georgia.
“However, the supporting
documents were fake — Springfield Aviation Company LLC, which is owned by
Onyema and managed by a person with no connection to the aviation business,
never owned the aircraft, and the company that allegedly drafted the appraisals
did not exist. Eghagha allegedly participated in this scheme as well, directing
the Springfield Aviation manager to sign and send false documents to banks and
even using the manager’s identity to further the fraud. After Onyema received
the money in the United States, he allegedly laundered over $16 million of the
proceeds of the fraud by transferring it to other accounts.
“Allen Ifechukwu Athan Onyema,
56, of Lagos, Nigeria, and Ejiroghene Eghagha, 37, of Lagos, Nigeria, were
indicted on November 19, 2019, on one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud,
three counts of bank fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit credit
application fraud, and three counts of credit application fraud. Additionally,
Onyema was charged with 27 counts of money laundering, and Eghagha was charged
with one count of aggravated identity theft.”
DoJ reminded the public that the
indictment only contains charges and that defendants are presumed innocent of
the charges, while it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendant’s
guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
No comments
Post a Comment
Kindly drop a comment below.
(Comments are moderated. Clean comments will be approved immediately)
Advert Enquires - Reach out to us at NigerianEye@gmail.com