$44.9m alleged fraud: EFCC sets up special panel to investigate Air Peace boss Onyema

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has set up a special panel charged with investigating the $44.9 million wire fraud and money laundering case against Air Peace Chief Executive, Allen Onyema.

A source in the antigraft agency who spoke with The Nation, said the EFCC probe is to amongst other things, determine if Onyema is fronting for some politically exposed persons in the country.

“Upon the receipt of the charges, the EFCC chairman raised a team to probe the allegations against Onyema  Eghagha, who were prominently mentioned in the indictment charges by the United States Government. The EFCC team is working on what I may term the ‘Nigerian components’ of the indictment including suspicious huge transfer of funds abroad, alleged abuse of letters of credit and money laundering.

“In fact, the Acting EFCC Chairman, Mr. Ibrahim Magu directed the team members to work round the clock at the weekend because it is a case we must work on with speed. We are also interested in the roles played by two banks in the country including one that has been on our radar for a while for money laundering. This same bank was implicated in the $115million poll bribery scam in 2015 for which former Minister of Petroleum Resources Diezani Alison-Madueke is wanted for trial.

“We need to act because in the indictment, the US indicated its plans to freeze some funds linked with Onyema in some accounts within and outside its jurisdiction. It is standard practice to have collaboration with sister organisations all over the world.  We cannot wait till the last minutes before playing our roles.”

Speaking further, the source said

“Certainly, our crack team will conduct a comprehensive investigation into the activities and remittances into the accounts of the four non-governmental organisations (NGOs) /non-profit groups of Onyema. Our immediate suspicion is that these four groups are likely to be tools for money laundering. The Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), tax bodies and other agencies will assist on the status of these organisations.

“We have directed our detectives to ascertain or otherwise if Onyema is allegedly serving as a front for some politically exposed persons (PEPs).

The EFCC may also investigate other persons or groups that have assisted Onyema in one way or the other on the allegations against him. The indictment spoke of known and unknown persons.”

The US Department of Justice have accused Onyema alongside his airlines Chief of Administration and Finance, Ejiroghene Eghagha, of “moving more than $20 million from Nigeria through some United States banks in a scheme involving false documents based on the purchase of airplanes.”

Eghagha, who is the international airline’s Chief of Administration and Finance, was also accused of bank fraud and committing aggravated identity theft in connection with the scheme.

The US government In the charges against Onyema and Eghagha, accused them of using the money laundered to buy luxury cars, including a Rolls Royce for $180,000 and Mercedes for $88, 500 among others.

Onyema was also said to have spent thousands of dollars on personal purchases at Atlanta Georgia locations of Prada, Neiman Marcus, Macy’s, Louis Vuitton, the Apple Store and various airlines.