Northern youths on the platform of Arewa Youth Patriotic Front has said that the alleged indictment of Allen Onyema, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Air Peace, by United States Department of Justice is a conspiracy to tarnish the image of an innocent and upright citizen.
Onyema was accused by the United States Department of Justice for allegedly laundering over $20 million from Nigeria through United States bank accounts in a scheme involving false documents based on the purchase of airplanes.
Addressing a press conference on Sunday in Kaduna, Bagudu Joseph, National Coordinator of the group, and the Secretary, Yusuf Adamu, alleged that the Air Peace Chairman, was being framed up in collaboration with some Nigerians to undermine his business interest across Africa.
Joseph noted the Air Peace Chairman was an upright man who believed in the unity of the country.
He threatened to unveiled the names of those Nigerians who were collaborating with foreign partners to tarnish the image of the Air Peace Chairman.
He also said the group had concluded plans to hold a peaceful rally at the US embassy in Nigeria to prove that Mr. Onyema was not guilty of the conspiracy.
Joseph said, “The indictment was hasty and ill-motivated as there have been conflicting statements on the saga coming out of the United States.
“This sudden purported indictment of Barrister Allen Onyema who has been doing business for decades in the US, and for many years he has never been found wanting until now, raises fundamental questions about the bad timing and the growing suspicion of many Nigerians over the motive behind targeting our own distinguished Allen Onyeama.
“Onyema has over the years built a reputation of integrity, a promoter of peace and a hard-working man, and cannot be allowed to be dragged in the mud by a western conspiracy.”
Also, the group’s secretary added that though the group was never against the process of promoting transparency and accountability, “yet, we will not fold our arms and watch helplessly and hopelessly as one of our finest is being coerced and pulled down in broad daylight.”
