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$20m indictment: We stand with Onyema –South East Governors
*It’s not first time Igbo leaders will support allegedly criminal such members – Respondent
The South East Governors Forum says it stands with Chairman of Air Peace, Chief Allen Onyema, against his indictment by the United States Department of Justice for allegedly laundering $20 million.
This has however received a swift reaction from an anonymous respondent, who said it was it was the first time South East leaders particularly their governors would stand with their allegedly criminals sons or daughters who eventually turned out to be truly guilty as charged.
Supporting his statement, the respondent cited Nnamdi Kanu who same people stood with against Nigerian government only for them to eventually become victims of the save accused they earlier supported, adding that “Evans, the richest kidnapper and killer’s case remains in court today because the Igbo do not see him as a criminal but as victim of ethnic cleansing and this is seriously unfortunate”, he said.
A statement signed by Governors Ifeanyi Uguwanyi (Enugu), Willie Obiano (Anambra), Dave Umahi (Ebonyi), Emeka Ihedioha (Imo) and Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), said even though the forum cannot claim to have the full knowledge of the matter, there are some insinuations it will not accept.
The forum said the insinuation that some government officials are against Onyema and would want to pull him down is a ploy to instigate hatred against him as he is ‘at peace’ with the Federal Government and has on various occasions, commended President Muhammadu Buhari, for assisting him get up to five international licenses.
The governors urged Buhari to support and protect Onyema to enable him sort out the matter peacefully so that his business, which t has contributed to the growth of the aviation industry will not suffer. The statement reads: “We have read a lot of comments by various individuals and interest groups on the matter.
“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. He has remained in the aviation industry which is highly challenging in our country when many people could not cope.
Onyema is at peace with the Federal Government and has on various occasions, commended the president for assisting him get up to five international licenses. Many officials of Buhari’s administration had stood for him many times in promoting and encouraging Air Peace operations in and outside Nigeria.
Air Peace is a business and most businesses usually have one issue or the other to settle and this one is not an exception. We plead with Buhari to please continue to give Onyema all the necessary support and protection to enable him sort out this matter peacefully.
Onyema has highly assisted the aviation industry in Nigeria and we must all stand to defend this business. The governors of the South East will do everything within the law to support Onyema overcome this issue so as to continue to offer more excellent services to Nigeria. 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.”
Onyema is accused by the US authorities for allegedly laundering over $20 million from Nigeria through United States bank accounts in a scheme involving false documents for the purchase of airplanes.
