Just In: South East Governors Beg US Ambassador, Buhari To Protect Onyema

The trials of the Chief Executive Officer of Air Peace, Allen Onyema, who was recently indicted for fraud by the US authorities has once again represented Nigerians in a bad or wrong perspective in the international community.

Naija News recalls that 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.

However, the Governors of the south-east region have expressed support for Allen Onyema.

Speaking 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.

“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.”