Following the indictment of Chairman of Air Peace, Allen Onyema by the U.S, a former Presidential Candidate and National Chairman of Nigeria For Democracy, NFD, a political Party, Asukwo Archibong has called on Nigerian government to intervene in defence of Mr. Onyema.
Recall that the US Department of Justice on Friday, November 22, 2019, indicted Onyema for bank fraud and money laundering, alleging that he had moved more than $20 million from Nigeria through United States bank accounts in a scheme involving false documents based on the purchase of airplanes.
Arcgibong in a satement said Onyema, as at today, is innocent under the law and urged the Nigerian Embassy in Washington D.C. and the Ambassador of Nigeria to the United States, to take a personal interest in the matter and to step up and assist Onyema in every way legally possible.
He stated that the function of the Nigerian Embassy in the United States, includes assisting Nigerian citizens who are in distress, “and Chief Onyema is in distress right now,” he added.
Archibong said “This is a man that we, as a nation, cannot afford to abandon in the hands of a United States of America Federal Court without a concerted effort at finding and supporting him with adequate legal representation.
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Archibong, an Attorney at Law with Archibong Law Firm, Washington DC/ Maryland U.S insisted that “At this point, no matter what anyone believes, he is presumed to be innocent.”
He recalled that earlier this year, Mr. Allen Onyema sacrificed a lot, in terms of personal and business resources, in order to rescue and bring back stranded Nigerians from South Africa during the height of the murderous xenophobic attacks against Nigerians.
“It will be recalled that I voluntarily donated some money to Air Peace when they airlifted Nigerians from South Africa free of charge.
“As a former Presidential Candidate, as National Chairman of a Political Party, Nigeria For Democracy, I will act again to assist Chief Allen Onyema during this his trying time.
“I will act because I am a stakeholder in the Federation of Nigeria. I will act because as of today, under the law, Chief Onyema is innocent. I will act because Chief Onyema is a Nigerian. I will act because he has acted to help others before now.
“Being a practicing United States attorney, admitted into several Federal Courts, I will offer my services to him without any pecuniary gain to myself and pro bono so as to defend him in this matter.
“That means I will assist in defending him for free if he needs me. Let’s stand by him, for he stood by us not too long ago,” he said and called on all Nigerians, in the meantime, to support Mr. Allen Onyema with prayers.
