October 31, (THEWILL) – The Arewa Youths Consultative Forum (AYCF), has joined its voice in the alleged fraud indictment levelled against the Chairman and CEO of Air Peace Limited, Allen Onyema.
The group advised that the Federal government should do all it can to protect Onyema, who they described as an entrepreneur and a philanthropist, who has contributed immensely to the development of the country.
In a statement made available to THEWILL and signed by the National President of the Forum, Alhaji Yerima Shettima, the organisation frowned at how a section of the media has maliciously been sensationalising the case involving the 2019 US Indictment of Allen Onyema, and even preempting the judgment in the US court.
“In recent times, we have all watched with nostalgia and shame how the 2019 US Indictment of Allen Onyema has been used and promoted deliberately by a section of the Nigerian press to malign the character and businesses of one of Nigeria’s true nationalists in a calculated bid to bring him down and ultimately, Air Peace, Nigeria’s leading airline.
The recent admission of the US government in court in the case of Ebony Mayfield, a staff of Springfield Aviation Company LLC, a United States-based company, that no bank suffered any loss whatsoever in the transactions of Allen Onyema, is a pointer to the fact that this man never intended to commit any fraud in his dealings.
This admission, by implication, equally confirms the assertion by his lawyers that every money used in the payment for the aircraft, using the letter of credit instrument was legitimately owned by Allen Onyema and his businesses, contrary to the previously held notions and insinuations that he committed bank fraud by fleecing the US banks of millions of dollars. There was no victim in his transactions and no crime was ever intended.
“The lawyers asserted that all steps taken in respect of the Letters of Credit were therefore taken in good faith and with legitimate funds. All the aircraft involved were brought into Nigeria and utilised in the operations of Air Peace Limited. There was no victim. There was no loss of funds to any person and there was no criminal intent whatsoever.
Most importantly, the position of Air Peace has been reviewed by various Law Enforcement Agencies in Nigeria and no evidence of criminality has been established against either Allen Onyema or Air Peace,” the Forum said.
The Forum further stressed that it was convinced that the allegation followed a misunderstanding in the processes of financial transactions between the two countries.
“We are convinced and, it is very obvious that this case, at best, arose out of the clash of misunderstandings of the processes of two different financial jurisdictions, Nigeria and the United States of America! This is not enough to be allowed to be used in bringing down a man who has given his all to his nation right from his teenage years in the university to this moment.
“Allen Onyema laid down his life for this country in the heady days of extreme violent militancy that almost brought Nigeria to its knees by singlehandedly, in 2005, began the transformation of the Militants by bringing down to Nigeria the entire faculty of the University of Rhode Island Centre for Nonviolence and Peace Studies, USA led by the renowned Dr. Bernard Lafayette Jr at his own expense for love of country. He was applauded worldwide.
“It was his efforts that enabled the Federal Government to proclaim amnesty to the militants believing that they could be transformed. He has used his blessings to intervene during critical times on behalf of his nation. He brought pride to Nigeria and black race when he evacuated, free of charge, Nigerians of every ethnicity trapped in South Africa during the xenophobic attacks.
“During the Covid-19 worldwide lockdowns, he went on to evacuate Nigerians trapped in India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and China who could not afford ticket fares, free of charge back to their country. He has no political ambition but at every turn, he uses every opportunity to promote the unity and oneness of this country,” the Forum also said.
Arewa Youths Consultative Forum said the false reports against the Air Peace Boss have become very abusive and wondered how some fellow Nigerians, for narrow interests, would want to undermine one of their fellows who is helping to build “our nation.”
“We condemn the press release that even heralded this unfortunate indictment in 2019. That press release violated his rights and even American and Nigerian laws by making very extreme judgmental statements against his person. The press release even found him guilty even before trial! How could Nigeria allow their own to face a trial that has been already predetermined irrespective of proofs to the contrary?
So, in view of the above development, we wish to call on the Nigerian government to stand firmly with its citizens in moments of challenges abroad. Our government owes a duty to protect the integrity of its citizens and their corporate image whenever such is called into question.
“The government should wade into this matter immediately to bring it to a permanent end. Nigerians would not accept our government sitting on the fence while one of its best is being destroyed with the might of a foreign country. If this is allowed to continue, Nigerian youths would lose faith in their nation,” the statement said.
About the Author
Anthony Awunor, is a business correspondent who holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Linguistics (UNILAG). He is also an alumnus of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria Kaduna State. He lives in Lagos.
