UPDATE: Air Peace boss denies $20m money laundering charge, says every kobo transferred went through CBN
By Olamilekan FAWAS
The Chairman of Air Peace, Mr Allen Onyema, has denied the $20 million money laundering charge preferred against
him by United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia.
Onyema in a statement issued on Saturday in Lagos described the charge as false , maintaining that he had never laundered any money whatsoever as every aircraft bought by the airline was transacted through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
It will be recalled that the USAO had on Nov. 19 indicted Onyema of bank fraud and money laundering for moving more than $20 million from Nigeria through United States bank accounts in a scheme involving false documents based on the purchase of airplanes.
Also charged with bank fraud and committing aggravated identity theft in connection with the scheme is Mrs Ejiroghene Eghagha, the airline’s chief of Administration and Finance.
However, in his reaction, Onyema denied conducting any illegalities, adding that he was prepared to defend defend his innocence in the United States court
He said: “Thank you for reaching out to me. I can confirm to you that all allegations are false and are in no way in line with my 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.”
In the statement released by the USAO, it said “Allen Ifechukwu Athan Onyema, 56, of Lagos, Nigeria, and Ejiroghene Eghagha, 37, of Lagos, Nigeria, were indicted on November 19, 2019.”
“The duo were indicted 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.
“Members of the public are reminded that the indictment only contains charges.
“The defendants are presumed innocent of the charges and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial,” the statement released by US Attorney Byung Pak said.
