RIGHTS GROUP CALLS ON FG TO PROTECT ONYEMA OVER ALLEGATIONS OF MONEY LAUNDERING
OGHENETEJIRI NYERHOVWO/IGBIVWIE RACHAEL
The Federal Government has been called upon to “protect” Allen Onyema, the embattled Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Air Peace on the allegations of bank fraud and money laundering leveled against him by the United States Department of Justice (DOJ).
This call was by Comr. Rex Anighoro, Convener, the Pan African Movement for Peace, Human Rights and Social Justice (PAMPHRSJ)at press conference at the Press Centre, Warri Correspondent Chapel, the group also condemned individuals and groups who have by their words and actions, passed a “guilty verdict” on the Nigerian businessman.
Comr. Anighoro further frowned on what he described as the body language of the Presidency regarding the matter over its alleged failure to refute comments on social media, by one of its aide, Lauretta Onochie.
While noting that it was with “rude shock” it learnt of the fraud indictment, the human rights group assured that millions of youths across African continent are set to embark on a solidarity march to show their stand with Barr. Onyema.
Flanked by its co-convener, Amb. Sixtus Obinna,Rex Anighoro opined that Onyema “does not have any political ambition”, hence those who feel threatened by his rising profile, especially after his evacuation of stranded Nigerians from South Africa in the wake of the xenophobic attacks, should have no cause for alarm.
Barr. Onyema who is also the founder of Foundation of Ethnic Harmony of Nigeria (FEHN) is being accused of moving more than $20 million from Nigeria, through US bank accounts in a scheme involving false documents based on the purchase of airplanes.
Noting that an arrest warrant has already been issued against the Air Peace boss to face the charges in the USA, the group urged him to go on to “clear his name and prove his innocence. We can vouch that Barrister Allen Onyema has no avarice to this call to integrity.”
According to Comr. Anighoro, “the mischievous castigation and casting of aspersions on Barr. Onyema by a Presidential Aide strengthens the suspicion in many quarters that the Presidency is deliberately working with his business competitors which includes her Western collaborators to set him up, pull him down and frustrate his business efforts.”
The group added, “we demand that President Muhammadu Buhari and the Presidency immediately rise up and do all that is necessary through diplomatic initiatives to protect and defend Barrister Allen Onyeama, our thriving entrepreneurial brand from this needless witch-hunting. The Nigerian government must never allow Barr. Onyema to be embarrassed and ridiculed like a common criminal before the global community nor made to feel like a nationless homeless man despite his outstanding contributions to making Nigeria and Africa a global pride.”
Comr. Anighoro spoke further, “we are therefore resolved to mobilize millions of Nigerian and African youths to march the streets of Africa in Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, South Africa amongst other places in solidarity and stand with him. Barrister Allen Onyema is a star of the first magnitude and we shall not allow anyone and any government to pull him down.”
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