Governors of the south-east have
expressed support for Allen Onyema, chief executive officer of Air Peace, who
was recently indicted for fraud by the US authorities.
The United States Department of
Justice had accused Onyema of moving more than $20 million from Nigeria through
US bank accounts in a scheme involving “false documents” based on the purchase
of airplanes.
Onyema was indicted alongside
Ejiroghene Eghagha, the airline’s chief of administration and finance, who is
said to have committed aggravated identity theft in connection with the scheme.
Subsequently, the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) reportedly seized Onyema’s passport to
temporarily restrict his movement.
But in a statement on Tuesday,
the South-East Governors’ Forum said there was no strong indication that Onyema
committed any crime, adding that businesses were meant to have one issue or the
other to settle.
They also called for the
intervention of President Muhammadu Buhari and the US ambassador to Nigeria.
“The insinuation that some
Nigerians or some government officials are against Onyema and would want to
pull him down, by all means, is a ploy to instigate hatred against him,” the
statement read.
“He has remained in the aviation
industry which is highly challenging in our country when many people could not
cope.
“Onyema is at peace with the
Federal Government and has on various occasions, commended the president for
assisting him get up to five international licences. Many officials of Buhari’s
administration had stood for him many times in promoting and encouraging Air
Peace operations in and outside Nigeria.
“Air Peace is a business and most
businesses usually have one issue or the other to settle and this one is not an
exception. We plead with Buhari to please continue to give Onyema all the
necessary support and protection to enable him sort out this matter peacefully.
“The governors of the South-east
will do everything within the law to support Onyema overcome this issue so as
to continue to offer more excellent services to Nigeria.
“We request the US Ambassador to
Nigeria to please step into the matter so as to peacefully resolve the issue
without destroying Onyema’s reputation. We also urge Onyema to engage
experienced and external financial managers to work with the US government in
resolving and rectifying his business tax matter if any.”
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