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US Court Renews Arrest Warrant For Air Peace CEO Allen Onyema

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A United States court has reissued an arrest order for Allen Onyema, the founder and CEO of Air Peace Limited, in connection with a $20 million bank fraud case that has been pending against him for five years.

The federal district court for Northern Georgia, Atlanta, renewed the arrest warrant on October 9, following the addition of new charges against Mr. Onyema and his co-defendant, Ejiroghene Eghagha, the airline’s Chief of Administration and Finance.

US authorities filed the superseding indictment on October 8, adding new counts of obstruction of justice and conspiracy to obstruct justice to the existing charges.

The two new counts bring the total number of charges to 38, including 36 counts of conspiracy, money laundering, bank fraud, credit application fraud, and identity theft.

On the same day the superseding indictment was filed, Assistant US Attorney Christopher Huber requested a new arrest warrant after the initial one issued in 2019.

On October 9, a deputy clerk of the court signed and delivered the new arrest warrant to the US Marshals, the agency responsible for apprehending fugitives.

  • Previous Arrest Warrants

It is important to recall that, prior to the filing of charges in 2019, Russell Vineyard, a magistrate at the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, had issued an arrest warrant for Messrs. Onyema and Eghagha in Canada.

American prosecutors had sought the warrant to enable Canadian law enforcement authorities to detain the suspects if they were found in their jurisdiction.

In another warrant issued on November 19, 2019, Justin Anand, an American magistrate of the same court, ordered the US Marshals Service to take them into custody.

  • Allegations

The charges pending since 2019 accuse Mr. Onyema of transferring suspicious funds from Nigeria to American bank accounts between 2017 and 2018, disguised as money intended for aircraft purchases.

Mr. Onyema and Mr. Eghagha allegedly organized the fraud by applying for export letters of credit to move funds from a Nigerian bank account to the bank account of Mr. Onyema’s Atlanta-based company, Springfield Aviation LLC, between 2016 and 2017.

Prosecutors claim the funds were supposedly for purchasing aircraft from Springfield Aviation for Air Peace, both of which are owned by Mr. Onyema.

However, the aircraft referenced in each export letter of credit were never owned or sold by Springfield Aviation.

Prosecutors allege that the defendants made false statements and misrepresented the value of property to influence the actions of the American banks involved.

Mr. Eghagha is said to have submitted false documents, including fabricated purchase agreements, bills of sale, and valuation reports, to Ebony Mayfield, who signed and submitted them to the banks in support of the letters of credit.

Ms. Mayfield, who had worked as a bartender, restaurant waitress, and nightclub dancer, was hired in 2016 as a manager for Springfield Aviation and authorized to enter into contracts on the firm’s behalf.

Prosecutors assert that Ms. Mayfield “had no connection to the aviation business outside of her role with Springfield Aviation and had no education, training, or licensing in the review and valuation of aircraft, including aircraft components.”

In October 2022, the US District Court sentenced Ms. Mayfield to three years’ probation for her role in the alleged fraud.

Prosecutors continue to assert that Mr. Onyema established and used Springfield Aviation “to facilitate large transfers of funds from his Nigerian bank accounts to the United States.”

In 2017, Mr. Onyema allegedly moved approximately $15 million from Springfield Aviation’s account at Wells Fargo Bank in Atlanta to his personal savings account with the same bank, through 27 transactions. Each transaction is considered a separate charge of money laundering.

In May 2019, after learning that he was under investigation for bank fraud in the Northern District of Georgia, Mr. Onyema and Mr. Eghagha allegedly instructed Ms. Mayfield to sign a key business contract but were told specifically not to date it.

In October 2019, Onyema allegedly instructed his attorneys to present the same contract, now falsely dated May 5, 2016 (before the bank fraud began), to government authorities in an effort to halt the investigation and unfreeze his bank accounts.

This submission of false documents forms the basis for the new charges of obstruction of justice and conspiracy to obstruct justice in the superseding indictment.

  • Superseding Charges

The US government added two new counts to the charges in the superseding indictment filed last month.

Announcing the superseding indictment, the US Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia accused Mr. Onyema and Mr. Eghagha of “obstruction of justice for submitting false documents to the government in an effort to end an investigation of him that resulted in earlier charges of bank fraud and money laundering.”

Prosecutors claim Mr. Onyema submitted false documents to US authorities in 2019, attempting to stop the investigation and unfreeze his bank accounts regarding the alleged $20 million fraud.

Mr. Eghagha, who is accused of participating in both the alleged obstruction scheme and the earlier bank fraud, is Mr. Onyema’s co-defendant in the case.

“After allegedly using his airline company as a cover to commit fraud on the United States’ banking system, Onyema, along with his co-defendant, allegedly committed additional crimes of fraud in a failed attempt to derail the government’s investigation of his conduct,” the statement quoted US Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan.

Additionally, Assistant Special Agent in Charge Lisa Fontanette, from the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Atlanta Field Office, stated, “Allegedly, Onyema and his accomplices fraudulently used the U.S. banking system in an effort to hide the source of their ill-gotten money.”

  • Denial

Air Peace and Mr. Onyema’s legal team have consistently denied the charges.

In response to the filing of the superseding indictment last month, Air Peace issued a statement asserting that “both Mr. Onyema and Eghagha remain innocent and these are mere allegations, and the case is still in court.”

The airline further added: “Our legal team is fully engaged with the matter and is working tirelessly to ensure that justice prevails. We remain confident that, through due process, the truth will be revealed, and our CEO and co-defendant will be exonerated.”

The airline emphasized that Mr. Onyema and his legal team have consistently cooperated with authorities throughout the legal process, and that Air Peace continues to operate without disruption, maintaining its commitment to delivering high-quality services to its customers.

“We want to reassure the public that these legal proceedings will not impact the safety, reliability, or day-to-day operations of Air Peace. The dedication and focus of our staff remain steadfast as we continue to provide you with the best aviation experience in Nigeria and beyond,” the statement concluded.

BIG STORY

UBA And Mastercard Introduce Debit Card With Benefits And Discounts To Commemorate UBA’s 75th Anniversary

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Africa’s Global Bank, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, has collaborated with Mastercard to launch a commemorative debit card in celebration of UBA’s 75th anniversary.

This collaboration aims to honor UBA’s long-standing customer relationships and enhance their banking experience with a range of offers and discounts across multiple platforms.

UBA’s Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Oliver Alawuba, who spoke at the unveiling, highlighted that the card comes loaded with certain benefits aimed at rewarding customers, including limited 25% off purchases on Jumia and USD75 cashback on transactions made through AliExpress.

He added that this initiative symbolizes the shared vision between UBA and Mastercard towards empowering Africans by enhancing customer experience through secure and convenient transactions.

“This new card represents the deepening of our relationship and our shared mission to empower millions of Nigerians and Africans, by providing them with access to secure transactions and new opportunities across the continent,” Alawuba said.

The GMD also disclosed the bank’s plans to unveil similar products across all its subsidiaries. “We are proud of this collaboration, and we are confident that Mastercard’s role in Africa will only grow stronger in the coming years,” he added.

Mark Elliott, Division President for Africa, Mastercard, expressed his appreciation for the UBA collaboration, emphasising its significance in supporting Africa’s digital economy. “We are excited to collaborate with UBA to celebrate this milestone and bring more value to customers across Africa. This commemorative card is more than just a product; it reflects our commitment to advancing financial inclusion and supporting Africans in accessing secure, convenient and impactful financial solutions.”

Elliott highlighted the immense opportunities within the African payment ecosystem and shared that Mastercard is eager to explore new opportunities with UBA. “Together with UBA, we are focused on delivering innovation that meet the evolving needs of the region, empowering individuals, and promoting digital growth across the continent,” he stated.

The launch of the commemorative debit card represents a significant step in UBA and Mastercard’s shared journey towards financial empowerment and innovation across Africa.

 

About United Bank for Africa

United Bank for Africa Plc is a leading Pan-African financial institution, offering banking services to more than forty-five million customers, across 1,000 business offices and customer touch points in 20 African countries. With presence in New York, London, Paris and Dubai, UBA is connecting people and businesses across Africa through retail, commercial and corporate banking, innovative cross-border payments and remittances, trade finance and ancillary banking services.

 

About Mastercard

Mastercard powers economies and empowers people in 200+ countries and territories worldwide. Together with our customers, we’re building a sustainable economy where everyone can prosper. We support a wide range of digital payments choices, making transactions secure, simple, smart and accessible. Our technology and innovation, partnerships and networks combine to deliver a unique set of products and services that help people, businesses and governments realize their greatest potential.

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BIG STORY

19 Of 38 Directors Fail Permanent Secretary Examination

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Nineteen Directors have failed the Permanent Secretary written examinations conducted in Abuja on Monday.

They were among the 38 eligible candidates who sat for the three-stage selection process to fill the vacancies for the retiring permanent secretaries from Abia, Bayelsa, Ebonyi, Enugu, Gombe, Kaduna, Kebbi, and Rivers States.

The Head of Information and Public Relations, Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Eno Olotu, said in a statement on Tuesday that the 19 candidates still in the race will on Wednesday proceed to the second stage of the exercise, which will test their competence in the use of “Information Communication and Technology (ICT)” in conducting government business.

The Office of the Head of Service of the Federation usually follows an established tradition of carrying out a rigorous three-stage exercise that ensures that only the very best among the directors on Grade Level 17 are appointed permanent secretaries and equipped with appropriate and relevant skills to improve and sustain effective delivery of services.

The statement further noted that the successful candidates would then proceed to the final stage, where they would be grilled by a carefully constituted panel of top bureaucrats and representatives of the organised private sector, on Friday, November 15.

Olotu extended the goodwill of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Esther Didi Walson-Jack, to all the 38 candidates and appreciated the continued support of the Nigerian public in entrenching “meritocracy” in career progression in the Civil Service.

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BIG STORY

Autonomy: FG, Governors, Local Government Chairmen Sign Implementation Agreement

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The Committee on Local Government Autonomy, set up by the Federal Government, has concluded its meetings and signed the technical document, which is expected to be transmitted to President Bola Tinubu soon.

The National President of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Hakeem Ambali, made this known in an interview (with The PUNCH) on Tuesday.

In May, the Federal Government, represented by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, filed a lawsuit to challenge the governors’ authority to receive and withhold federal allocations meant for Local Government Areas (LGAs).

The suit sought to prevent state governors from unilaterally dissolving democratically elected local government councils and establishing caretaker committees.

The AGF argued that the constitution mandated a democratically elected local government system and did not allow alternative governance structures.

On July 11, 2024, the Supreme Court gave a landmark judgment affirming the financial autonomy of the 774 LGs in the country, noting that governors could no longer control funds meant for the councils.

The seven-member Supreme Court panel, led by Justice Garba Lawal, ruled that it was illegal and unconstitutional for governors to manage and withhold LG funds.

The apex court also directed the Accountant-General of the Federation to pay LG allocations directly to their accounts, as it declared the non-remittance of funds by the 36 states unconstitutional.

Also, on August 20, the Federal Government instituted a 10-member inter-ministerial committee to implement the Supreme Court’s ruling on local government autonomy.

The committee members include the Minister of Finance & Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun; Attorney-General of the Federation & Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi SAN; Minister of Budget & Economic Planning, Abubakar Bagudu; Accountant-General of the Federation, Oluwatoyin Madein; and the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Olayemi Cardoso.

Others are the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Finance, Mrs Lydia Jafiya; the Chairman, Revenue Mobilisation Allocation & Fiscal Commission, Mohammed Shehu; and representatives of state governors and the local governments.

The committee’s primary goal is to ensure that local governments are granted full autonomy, allowing them to function effectively without interference from state governments.

Speaking to our correspondent on Tuesday, Ambali said, “The committee has held its final meeting and we have signed the technical document which will be transmitted to Mr President so by November end. It is expected that states will receive their allocations from FAAC. Also, I can tell you that the President is eager to receive that document. The committee worked within the time frame that was provided.”

Meanwhile, the National Union of Teachers (NUT) has expressed fears about the capacity of LGs to pay the N70,000 new minimum wage to primary school teachers.

The NUT’s apprehension is based on the failure of the councils to implement the former N30,000 minimum wage.

Findings by our correspondent show that some LG workers in Nasarawa, Enugu, Zamfara, Borno, Yobe, and Kogi states, among others, have remained on the N18,000 minimum wage, which was approved in 2011.

However, the inability of the councils to implement the minimum wage has been blamed on the failure of the government to fully implement LG autonomy.

Data obtained from the NUT revealed that teachers in LG primary schools were not paid the former minimum wage.

In Enugu State, for instance, LG workers were exempted from benefiting from the minimum wage, even though state workers enjoyed the salary.

Also, Abia, Adamawa, Bauchi, Nasarawa, Kogi, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, Zamfara, Imo, and Gombe States did not implement the old minimum wage for teachers at both state and local levels.

Confirming this, the General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, Dr. Mike Ene, said, “I can tell you that some states didn’t even implement the N18,000 minimum wage for teachers at the local level. Some governors refused to pay, stating that the teachers are under the employment of the local governments.

“There should be no form of segregation when it comes to the implementation of the minimum wage. We all go to the same market. There is no specific market for local government workers. However, we commend all the governors who have come out to say that the minimum wage will be implemented across the board.

“Also, the NLC has vowed to shake the country by December should state governments fail to implement the minimum wage, so I can tell you that the move by the NLC will force things into play.”

But NULGE president Ambali assured that the minimum wage would be implemented across the board when the LG autonomy commences.

“Over the years, governors have had one excuse, and that is the fact that they always claimed that LGs are autonomous so they can’t negotiate minimum wage on behalf of LG workers. But the truth is that LGs were never autonomous during those periods.

“However, during the negotiation of the new minimum wage, the President brought in representatives of ALGON (Association of Local Governments of Nigeria) to also negotiate, and with the LG autonomy coming into play, that will be settled. The NLC has also given an ultimatum of December for all states as regards the payment of the minimum wage,” he added.

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