The following warnings occurred: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Warning [2] Undefined array key "avatartype" - Line: 783 - File: global.php PHP 8.0.30 (Linux)
|
Air Peace CEO, Allen Onyema indicted for alleged $20m fraud and money laundering in t - Printable Version +- Forums (http://contripeople.com) +-- Forum: General Discussion (http://contripeople.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=5) +--- Forum: General Discussion (http://contripeople.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=60) +--- Thread: Air Peace CEO, Allen Onyema indicted for alleged $20m fraud and money laundering in t (/showthread.php?tid=25717) |
Air Peace CEO, Allen Onyema indicted for alleged $20m fraud and money laundering in t - Edoman - 11-23-2019 Air Peace CEO, Allen Onyema indicted for alleged $20m fraud and money laundering in the United States Allen Ifechukwu Athan Onyema, the Chairman and CEO of Air Peace has been indicted over an alleged bank fraud and money laundering scheme. The Airline owner was accused of moving more than $20 million from Nigeria through United States bank accounts in a scheme involving false documents based on the purchase of airplanes. Quote:“Onyema allegedly leveraged his status as a prominent business leader and airline executive while using falsified documents to commit fraud,” said U.S. Attorney Byung J. “BJay” Pak. “We will diligently protect the integrity our banking system from being corrupted by criminals, even when they disguise themselves in a cloak of international business.” Air Peace's Chief of Administration and Finance, Ejiroghene Eghagha was also linked to the alleged fraudulent scheme and was charged with bank fraud and committing aggravated identity theft. Quote:Robert J. Murphy, the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division commented on the indictment, “Allen Onyema’s status as a wealthy businessman turned out to be a fraud. He corrupted the U.S. banking system, but his trail of deceit and trickery came to a skidding halt. DEA would like to thank the many law enforcement partners and the subsequent prosecution by the U.S. Attorney’s Office who aided in making this investigation a success.” It was gathered that Onyema began a frequent trip to Atlanta in United States in 2010 and reportedly 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. In the statement released by the U.S. Attorney’s Office of Northern District of Georgia, the Nigerian businessman was accused of purchasing five separate Boeing 737 passenger planes by using a series of export letters of credit to cause banks to transfer more than $20 million into his Atlanta-based bank accounts. The supporting documents were allegedly fake and reportedly from Springfield Aviation Company LLC which is owned by Onyema and managed by a person with no connection to the aviation business. It was found that Springfield Aviation Company LLC never owned the aircraft it claimed to be buying. The company that allegedly drafted the appraisals also does not exist. Onyema and Eghagha 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 while Eghagha was charged with one count of aggravated identity theft. RE: Air Peace CEO, Allen Onyema indicted for alleged $20m fraud and money laundering in t - Edoman - 11-23-2019 Onyema Denies US Fraud Allegations, Says All Money Transferred Went Through CBN AirPeace CEO Allen Onyema, has denied all fraud allegations by the USAZ, stating that they are false and are in no way in line with his character as a person and as a business man whose only aim has been to build Nigeria and improve wellbeing. “As the press statement clearly stated, these are indictment that only contains charges. I am innocent of all charges and the US government will find no dirt on me because I have never conducted business with any illegalities. “Be rest assured that I also have my lawyers on this and these mere allegations will be refuted. I never laundered money in my life, neither have I committed bank fraud anywhere in the world. Every Kobo I transferred to the US for aircraft purchase went through the Central Bank of Nigeria LC regime and all were used for the same purpose. “The American companies that received the funds are still in business. I never took a penny from any US bank or Nigerian bank. I am willing to defend my innocence in the US courts,” Onyema stated. The US Attorneys office in Georgia had alleged that the Chairman, CEO, and founder of Air Peace, a Nigerian airline, has been involved with bank fraud and money laundering for moving more than $20 million from Nigeria through United States bank accounts in a scheme allegedly involving false documents based on the purchase of airplanes. https://businessday.ng/news/article/onyema-denies-us-fraud-allegations-says-all-money-transferred-went-through-cbn/ RE: Air Peace CEO, Allen Onyema indicted for alleged $20m fraud and money laundering in t - Edoman - 11-23-2019 Quote: https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/364787-alleged-fraud-u-s-seizes-14-million-in-bank-accounts-linked-to-allen-onyema.html RE: Air Peace CEO, Allen Onyema indicted for alleged $20m fraud and money laundering in t - Edoman - 11-24-2019 Allen Onyema: Arewa, Ohanaeze, Yoruba, Ijaw youths reveal those trying to bring down Air Peace owner November 23, The Nigerian Ethnic Nationality Youth Leaders Forum (NENYLF) on Saturday, revealed that it is Allen Onyema’s business competitors that are collaborating with some US officials to bring the Nigerian businessman down. The youth groups warned that nothing must happen to the embattled Onyema and his Peace Airline. The coalition accused business rivals of Onyeama of collaborating with some people in the United States government to harass the businessman who they described as one of the finest in Nigeria. The coalition consists the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF), the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide, the Yoruba Council of Youths Worldwide and the Ijaw Council Worldwide. Their position was contained in a joint statement signed by their various Presidents, Yerima Shettima, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, Aremo Oladotun Hassan, and Barrister Pereotubo Oweilaemi, respectively, and made available to DAILY POST on Saturday. They said that they would no longer fold their arms and watch individuals with passion to rescue Nigeria brought down through allegations like the one currently being suffered by Onyeama who had, for long, done business with the US. Read the full statement below: We have been following with keen interest the conflicting narratives coming out of the United States regarding the purported indictment of Nigeria’s philanthropist, Mr. Allen Ifechukwu Athan Onyeama. As law-abiding citizens, we recognize the involvement of the US Court and would not want to take a prejudicial stand on the matter. But much as we appreciate the involvement of Judiciary, we feel there is compelling reason to question this sudden, purported indictment of a Nigerian who has been doing business for decades in the US and he has never been found wanting until now. This raises fundamental questions about the bad timing and the growing suspicion of many Nigerians over the motive behind targeting our son of the soil. We are beginning to see a pattern that smacks of conspiracy by his business rivals in Nigeria, working together with their American collaborators to rubbish one of the few outstanding philanthropists in Nigeria. Onyeama has, since built the reputation of a peace promoter who brokered peace between the late President Yaradua-led Federal Government and militants of the Niger-Delta using his well-known platform of peace and reconciliation. Beyond Niger-Delta, Onyeama has left his footprint as a man dedicated to the service of Nigerians in difficult situations, using his hard-earned income. It was the same Onyeama who worked tirelessly to broker peace between the Coalition of Northern Groups and Igbos when it culminated into the quit notice issued all Igbo residents in the North. Working closely with the then Governor of Borno State, Onyeama ensured that the Coalition of Northern Groups’ Kaduna Declaration against Igbos, leading to the clash with IPOB, was withdrawn and peace reigned in the end. It therefore smacks of grand conspiracy to see how the man is being pushed and pulled in many directions with accusations yet to be confirmed by any court of competent jurisdiction in his fatherland, much less that of the United States. We noticed how the narrative is being spread to the media, to achieve a desired end. Fresh in the memory of majority of Nigerians today is how since 2013 Onyeama has committed a large chunk of his legitimate business profit to help communities ravaged by natural disasters or communal conflicts. Even at a very critical stage during the most heinous xenophobic attack of Nigerians in South Africa and the attendant diplomatic row between our country and South Africa, only Onyeama came forward with a huge budget for evacuating Nigerian victims from that country. It is on record that Onyeama’s multiple investments in Nigeria have been helpful not only as window of job opportunities for Nigerians but also as a classical example of Corporate Social Responsibility. In view of the suspicious nature of this case that betrays a conspiracy by his suspected Nigerian business rivals and their American collaborators, we wish to state as follows: Much as Nigerians will not object to a legal action by any court in the world, we will never ever fold our arms and watch hopelessly as one of our finest is being pulled down in broad daylight. We would like to draw the attention of his Nigerians rivals that we suspect are working hand-in-hand with their American partners, that we will follow every legitimate legal means of defending one of the most exemplary Nigerian investors that we have in Mr. Onyeama. We call on fellow civil society organizations in the country to rise up to this new judicial brigandage designed to destroy our son of the soil in a foreign land. This is indeed the time to tell the whole world, including United States officials holding Onyeama, that enough of this harassment scheme against successful Nigerian investors. We make bold to say that at this crucial moment in the history of our beloved country what we need is more of Allen Onyeama. And we are determined to promote the emergence of Nigerian investors who have great sympathy for the poor and all those facing extraordinary life’s difficulties. It is our conviction that the Air Peace CEO is an exemplary silver-lining not only in Nigeria but on the continent. NEWS RE: Air Peace CEO, Allen Onyema indicted for alleged $20m fraud and money laundering in t - Edoman - 11-26-2019 Quote: Source: https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/365090-how-i-made-my-fortune-to-start-air-peace-onyema.html |