Following his indictment for alleged bank fraud and money laundering by the United States Government, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is said to have seized the international passport of the Chief Executive Officer of Air Peace, Allen Onyema.
This was according to a national daily, which also reported that Onyema’s movement had been temporarily restricted while investigations into the allegations against him are ongoing.
The U.S. Department of Justice had accused the Air Peace boss of moving over $20 million from Nigeria through various bank accounts in the U.S. using falsified documents based on the purchase of aircraft for his airline.
The EFCC was said to have interrogated Onyema and is keeping his passport over the charges against him by the U.S authorities.
“Following his interaction with our detectives, it became imperative to restrict his movement to the country because we will need him from time to time,” the newspaper quoted a source in the commission to have said.
“We have seized his passports for an unfettered comprehensive investigation. And so far, he has cooperated with our team.
“During our interaction, he maintained his innocence. We have, however, made progress in our preliminary investigation.
“The extradition process is within the purview of the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation. You should not forget that the EFCC has to investigate, establish prima facie case and arraigning the suspects in court before any extradition application can be initiated.
“The US government knows what to do as far as the invocation of the MLAT is concerned. We are only fulfilling our own part of the collaboration with the relevant US agencies.”
Meanwhile, reacting earlier in a statement made available to Igbere TV, Onyema denied the charges against him and said he prepared to defend himself in court.
“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,” he said.
A statement issued by his lawyers, A.O. Alegeh & Co., said Oyema “denies and vigorously defend himself against the allegations made against him by the US Attorney in Atlanta, Georgia in relation to purchase of Aircraft, Aircraft spares and Aircraft maintenance.
“None of the allegations involve any third-party funds but relate to his funds utilized in the Airline business. There is no allegation that any bank [in the United States, Nigeria or elsewhere], Company or individual suffered any financial or any loss whatsoever.”
