The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 29-year-old graduate, Oguejiofor Nnaemeka Simonpeter for allegedly importing heroin worth over ₦3.192 billion into the country.

According to a statement on Sunday by the NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, Simonpeter, a Thailand returnee, is a graduate of Mechanical Engineering from the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Uli, Anambra state.

He narrated that the suspect was arrested by NDLEA operatives at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos on October 7, 2024 while attempting to smuggle the illicit drug concealed in six backpacks, and packed into two big suitcases.

“The 29-year-old graduate of Mechanical Engineering from the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Uli, Anambra state, had left Thailand on 3rd October on Qatar Airways flight and stopped over in Doha where he spent two days before heading to Lagos while his luggage was routed to Accra, Ghana, his original destination,” the statement reads.

“After arriving Lagos on the 5th October, he contacted the airline to reroute his luggage to Nigeria so that he can pick them up as rush bags in a bit to beat security checks. However, NDLEA officers intercepted him at the point of exit.

“A search of his two suitcases revealed three empty backpacks in each box with a large parcel of heroin neatly sewn to all the six backpacks. The six parcels were subsequently recovered with a gross weight of 13.30kg.”

The statement said Oguejiofor claimed he was hired for a fee of $7,000, and that he was to deliver two parcels in Lagos, and the other four in Accra, Ghana.

In another development, the NDLEA spokesperson said 32.6m pills of tramadol worth over N12.6 billion, and 1.5m bottles of codeine-based syrup with a street value of N10.16 billion, were intercepted at the Lekki Deep Seaport, Apapa seaport in Lagos, and Onne, Rivers state.

Babafemi said the combined monetary value of the seized opioids amounted to N22.7 billion.

“The illicit consignments were seized from containers watch listed by NDLEA based on intelligence and processed for 100 percent joint examination with men of the Nigeria Customs and other security agencies at the three seaports between Monday 7th and Friday 11th October 2024,” the statement added.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has stated that God has blessed Nigeria with numerous resources for growth.

He said that it is not God’s plan for Nigeria to struggle economically, noting that the country is blessed with abundant natural resources.

Obasanjo shared his thoughts at the Methodist Archdiocese of Abuja’s 40th anniversary celebration on Sunday in Abuja.

He opined that Nigeria had all it needs to thrive.

He subsequently called on leaders to judiciously use the country’s abundant resources to develop the nation.

Obasanjo echoed the sentiments of Methodist Prelate, Dr Oliver Aba’s message, emphasising the importance of appreciating God’s blessings.

He said, “As God created other nations, endowing them with resources, He similarly blessed Nigeria with numerous resources for growth.

“Just as Egypt has the River Nile, Nigeria has the Rivers Niger and Benue, plus crude oil, fertile soil, and other natural resources.

“I firmly believe God didn’t create Nigeria to struggle. He has given us everything we need; it’s our duty to appreciate Him, especially since many countries lack what Nigeria has.”

Obasanjo urged leaders, clergy, and citizens to pray for the country’s healing, acknowledging that Nigeria’s current situation isn’t God’s fault.

“We’ve squandered God’s gifts, but if we humble ourselves and seek Him, He will heal our land,” he added.

President Bola Tinubu, represented by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, commended the Methodist Church Nigeria for its commitment to social justice, education, and humanitarian outreach.

In his goodwill message, Tinubu praised Methodist Church Nigeria for its pioneering role and impactful vision.

“I celebrate the 40th anniversary of Abuja Archdiocese, a testament to the church’s enduring spirit of faith, community, and service in Abuja and 183 years in Nigeria.

“The Methodist Church has significantly contributed to our nation’s development through social justice, education, and humanitarian efforts, transforming lives nationwide,” he said.

A prominent chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bauchi State, Sunusi Takko, has publicly criticized former Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi, for his recent remarks aimed at President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

Takko, who was part of the now-defunct 2023 APC Presidential Campaign Council, described Amaechi’s criticisms as “unpatriotic” and suggested that he should focus on recovering from his loss of the presidential ticket to Tinubu in 2022.

Amaechi, in a recent interview, lamented the prevailing economic hardships in the country and questioned why Nigerian youths have not taken to the streets to protest against Tinubu’s government. His comments sparked a wave of responses from party members, including Takko.

In a statement issued on Sunday, Takko expressed his disapproval of Amaechi’s call for mass protests against the government, questioning the former minister’s motivations.

He said, “The fact that he lost to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu with the widest margin of votes doesn’t mean he should rock the boat, leading the path to destruction of lives and properties of fellow Nigerians.

“Amaechi should always learn to be loyal to those who have helped him one way or the other to reach his present position and status in life, knowing fully well that what goes around comes around.

“All the issues raised by Rotimi Amaechi for calling on the youth to rise against President Bola Tinubu’s presidency have been addressed in his October 1 presidential address and measures have already been put in place providing necessary recipe.

“One of such measures is the proposed National Youths Confab, which has been applauded by millions of Nigerian youths and will start yielding positive results in ameliorating some of these issues.”

Similarly, an APC chieftain in Osun State, Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, appealed to politicians to refrain from utterances that could incite Nigerians into violent protest resulting from the current hardship in the country.

He subsequently called on the security agencies to be on the alert and ensure that anyone attempting to incite the masses was made to face the consequences of engaging in such an act.

Oyintiloye said any politician using the current hardship in the country to incite the masses against the constituted authorities should be treated as an enemy of the country.

According to him, at this critical time in the nation’s national life, President Tinubu needed prayers and the support of all Nigerians to enable him stabilize the economy for the benefit of all.

“There is no doubt that the economy is not in its best shape, but this is just temporary. The President is working assiduously to ensure that the economy is brought back to shape for Nigerians to enjoy.

“While we are waiting for that, I do not think inciting the masses against the government is the best way to go.I will strongly advise those politicians who are calling people to protest against the government to desist or be ready to face the law,”Oyintiloye said.

The Federal Government, through the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), is set to ground over 60 private jets owned by prominent individuals in the country due to unpaid import duties totaling several billions of naira.

The enforcement is scheduled to begin today, October 14th, 2024.

Documents exchanged between the NCS and the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, obtained by The PUNCH, indicate that many private jet owners have failed to pay import duties, leading to this enforcement action aimed at recovering the outstanding sums.

This decision follows a one-month verification exercise conducted by the NCS between June and July of this year, which assessed private jet ownership and duty payments.

Despite the verification, many private jets remain non-compliant, leading to today’s grounding action.

Notably, some of the jets affected by this action belong to prominent business figures, including bank executives.

The NCS has already notified several private jet owners, with more expected to receive letters today.

Most of the jets impacted by the grounding are foreign-registered but owned by Nigerians.

Among the luxury aircraft listed are several Bombardier models, including the Bombardier Challenger 604 and the Bombardier BD-700 Global series, valued at tens of millions of dollars each.

As of Sunday, 11 jet owners had been informed of the impending grounding, with another 55 expected to receive notification by the end of today.

Reports suggest some jet operators attempted to lobby the Presidency to intervene, but the effort was unsuccessful.

As a result, some owners have begun settling their import duties to avoid the clampdown.

For instance, operators of a U.S.-registered Gulfstream G650ER have reportedly paid N5.3bn in import duties to avoid sanctions.

A similar exercise in 2019 resulted in the recovery of duties from various jet owners.

This current action is expected to bring in significant revenue for the government, potentially over N260bn.

While some aircraft owners have already started negotiations with the NCS to settle their debts, others have promised to do so once their aircraft return to Nigeria.

However, officials confirmed that at least three jets have already been flown out of the country to avoid the grounding but will be restricted once they re-enter Nigerian airspace.

The Nigerian Customs Act of 2023 authorizes the NCS to penalize the owners of goods, including private jets, imported without proper duties being paid.

Demand notices have been issued, and the NCS has requested the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency to deny flight clearance for non-compliant aircraft.

The NCS’s verification exercise was introduced after it was discovered that many private jets in Nigeria were operating without paying the required customs duties.

In July, NCS Comptroller General Adewale Adeniyi confirmed that many jets had left the country ahead of the exercise, seemingly to avoid being verified.

He emphasized that while some aircraft are in Nigeria temporarily, those used domestically must pay duties as per international aviation regulations.

Over the past three years, the government has been working to recover unpaid import duties from private jet operators, some of whom have used technical loopholes, such as obtaining Temporary Import Permits (TIP), to avoid payment.

The TIP allows aircraft to operate in Nigeria temporarily, but many operators have exploited this provision, extending their permits indefinitely.

Customs officials have described the TIP system as a loophole allowing private jet owners to evade import duties, which are typically five percent of the jet’s value.

Many owners have been reluctant to pay these substantial sums, opting instead to exploit the temporary waiver provided under international regulations.

However, the new Customs leadership appears determined to close these loopholes and recover all unpaid duties.

…125 still in detention —Deji Adeyanju

The Department of State Service, DSS, this weekend, released two #EndBadGovernance protesters, who have been in detention in Kaduna.

At press time, there are no fewer than 125 protesters still in detention, including 38 remanded by Justice Emeka Nwite, in Abuja.

Vanguard gathered, yesterday, that the 38 detained protesters would appear before Justice Nwite for further hearing on their bail.

The 125 detained protesters have been in custody for over 62 days.

Meanwhile, Mr. Deji Adeyanju, counsel to the protesters, in an exclusive chat with Vanguard, yesterday, expressed concerns over the lack of transparency in the judicial process.

According to Adeyanju, authorities claimed to have filed charges, “but our team has yet to receive any documents.”

He stated that the development highlights the inconsistencies in the handling of protest-related cases nationwide, though most of the 873 protesters arrested in Kano have been released, due to collaborative efforts by the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA.

Adeyanju added that efforts are ongoing in Sokoto, as two protesters have been released in the North-West region, recently.

Nationwide, over 1,000 protesters were arrested.

Considering the releases in Kano (873) and Sokoto, as well as Kaduna (two), about 125 protesters are likely still in custody, including the 38 in Abuja and 10 facing treason charges.

Adeyanju said: “We are currently working on the cases of about 38 or 39 #EndBadGovernance protesters, who have been remanded by Justice Nwite in Abuja for 62 days.

“Their remand is set to end today (Monday). The authorities claim to have filed charges against many others, but we have not been served any documents up to this point. That’s the main challenge we have.
“In Kano, most of the 873 protesters have been released because we have been collaborating with the NBA on this matter. In Sokoto, we have made some progress as well.

“However, I am not entirely sure about the situation in other states, but I can look into it and provide you with an update in the next few days.”

The #EndBadGovernance protests were staged by Nigerians over the worsening economic hardship and growing hunger across the land.

The protests, however, turned violent in some states, resulting in casualties and arrests across the country.

•As MAN loses legal battle on electricity tariff hike

The manufacturing sector in Nigeria is facing existential threats with the escalating costs of energy, amongst other binding constraints, driving up production and logistics costs thus putting the sector on the brink of collapse.

Manufacturers over time have raised the alarm over the damaging impact of the rising cost of energy, which has seen the pump price of petrol rise by about 430 per cent and electricity tariff up by 212 per cent for ‘Band A’ consumers over the past year.

On April 3, NERC approved an increase in electricity tariff for customers under the Band A classification. The commission said customers under the category, who receive 20 hours of electricity supply daily, would begin to pay N225 per Kilowatt-hour (kWh) up from N66/kWh, but later reduced it to N209/kWh.

MAN had labelled the hike in power tariff as detrimental to economic growth and in its quest for survival, instituted a legal action at the Federal High Court in Lagos against the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and joined the electricity distribution companies (DisCos) as respondents to challenge the implementation of electricity tariff hike.

The manufacturers sought four reliefs: that due process stated in the Act for the review was not fulfilled before the DisCos applied to NERC for the tariff review on 31 July 2023; and that regulatory requirements for tariff reviews were not followed before NERC issued the Supplementary Order of 3 April 2024 and the subsequently reviewed rate of 6 May 2024.

MAN also held that placing the burden of the tariff increase on only Band “A” feeders and leaving out other bands amounted to discrimination against such consumers; and that the defendants must comply with administrative procedures for tariff review before rightfully implementing the April and May Supplementary Orders.

NERC however objected to the suit, stating that MAN’s case constitutes an abuse of court processes, being hasty and prematurely filed without following due process of the law.

But in a significant setback to the manufacturers’ efforts to reverse the electricity tariff to its previous price, the court struck out the case. 

In the judgment delivered on 7th October 2024, the court considered all the parties’ arguments and ruled that MAN’s suit was an abuse of court process being premature and without due regard to the provisions of section 51 of the Electricity Act 2023.

The court also held that MAN’s case disclosed no reasonable cause of action, as it had not exhausted the dispute resolution mechanism. It thus held that the suit was not instituted with due process of law, and consequently struck out the case.

The development represents a significant setback in the manufacturers’ efforts to reverse the electricity tariff to its previous price, which means the sector will continue to operate at high production costs, with the attendant consequence of low sales, increased unsold inventory, probable shutdown and loss of jobs.

President of MAN, Francis Meshioye, had said that the policies of the federal government in the last year have made manufacturing businesses unattractive in Nigeria, lamenting that the growth of manufacturing is seemingly not on the front burner of the federal government.

“Major contributors to Nigeria’s rising inflation are food and energy. If you look at the electricity tariff cost, it moved from N66/kWh to N209/kWh. If you look at the percentage increase, you discover that it is not marginal. This has affected the manufacturing business generally,” he stated.

Director General of MAN, Segun Ajayi-Kadir, said: “The exponential increase in the face of inadequate electricity supply is inimical to the competitiveness of Nigerian products and businesses and will definitely exacerbate the impact of high cost of production.”

He had earlier lamented that diesel is taking 80 percent of the profit of surviving manufacturing firms in the country, wondering “which manufacturer can cope with that astronomical price for energy to produce?”

He noted that while there had been a slight reduction in diesel prices, largely due to the Dangote refinery, the costs remained burdensome for manufacturers. “We have seen an improvement, but the cost is still high,” he said.

Ajayi-Kadir painted a grim picture for the sector’s performance in the fourth quarter, while identifying rising interest rates, high diesel prices, and electricity tariff hikes as major obstacles for the sector.

“Earlier in the year, we imagined that the second half would be better. But rather than experience an upswing, we have continued to have a depression,” he added.

In its second quarter, Q2’24, Manufacturers CEO Confidence Index (MCCI) survey, MAN ranked the exorbitant increase in the electricity tariff as one of the major challenges facing their operations.

“All the current indicators of manufacturers’ confidence went south due to the exorbitant increase in the electricity tariff, the aggressive hike of the interest rates, the high exchange rate, the persistent inflationary pressure, and the recurrence of fuel scarcity, amongst others.

“The situation calls for big concern as the business environment begins to threaten the longstanding resilience of many manufacturers,” the report added.

Before the Nigerian economy began to take a consistent and dramatic tumble, shopping in superstores became a lifestyle Nigerians savoured lavishly.

Apart from goodies available for purchase, many look forward to taking photographs to either let friends know their activity for the day or just have fun.

The queues in these malls and stores would make your heart skip with the queue at the cash registers, making you wonder when it would get your turn.

But Economy&Lifestyle’s visit to some of the supermarkets and shopping malls showed that such an era, where customers troop into big shopping malls and supermarkets to get their basic needs, is no more.

Many now prefer to patronise local wholesale shops, where they can get such goods at cheaper prices and with fewer queues.

Mrs Akinade Temitope, a banker, said she buys her goods from local shops, noting that they are cheaper there.

“Everybody knows the prices of goods in the market are high.

“But when you go to some supermarkets, it is ridiculous.

“Up to the price of bread which is sold for N1,200.

“In bakeries outside supermarkets, the size of bread goes for N800.

“Who would know such and still decide to patronize the former?

“Ordinary Maggi small sachet is N380 in supermarkets and a roll of 10 is N3,800 when I can get such at N3,000.

“With the way businesses are crawling, salaries not increasing and expenses piling up every day one will need to change lifestyle.

“So I decided to stop visiting the shopping malls and instead get my groceries at cheap prices in wholesale stores.

“This simple change in lifestyle has helped me cut costs a lot.”

Mrs. Monica Adams, a teacher who usually shops every weekend for groceries said she now visits local stores to buy her groceries at a cheaper price and small quantity.

“Before, I shopped in malls and supermarkets. But now, I don’t because of the rise in prices I just decided to patronize local stores.

“I can’t even buy the large quantity of food items I usually buy in these malls anymore.
“Now I just patronize local stores to purchase what my money can afford.

“Those queues in the shopping malls and supermarkets especially on the weekends have reduced.
“Try to visit one and you will see for yourself.”

However, a few people said they patronize shopping malls for things that are difficult to get in local stores such as ice cream and ice.

Mr. Victor Oshinaike said: “I only visit the supermarket whenever there is an item I can’t find in the local market.

“I am a top fan of supermarkets because I don’t like moving about the local markets to get different items.

“But I don’t mind moving now to cut costs.

“To make it fun and easy to bargain prices with sellers, I go with my younger sister.

“It is before people say men don’t price. Now men are very conscious of the prices of goods and also look for where to get these goods at a very cheap price.

“There is no rich man in Nigeria, the rich also cry.”

Miss. Kenny Boma, a pharmacist said: “My family and I have shopped for groceries every month in shopping malls for years now but for two months now, we have not been able to do so anymore.

“We now go to local markets to get things needed and manage.

“Apart from the cost, nobody has spare cash to do lots of shopping these days. Everyone is managing. They only go for basic things now.”

Apart from Supermarkets, even the queues in bakeries have reduced too”, Shalewa Ogunsanya, a hair vendor, said.

“The queue in shopping malls used to give me trauma. For so many reasons I hated it there but they are the only stores where you can find all your groceries at once.

“I went to a particular one last week and was worried about the queue. To my surprise, there was no one in the queue when I got to the cashier’s counter.”

“I asked the cashier why there was no crowd on a weekend and she replied, “things are so expensive and not everyone can afford them in this economy.

“We are also being affected by poor sales too.

“I visited a popular bakery to buy bread the same day. This bakery was also filled with customers who were always in queue.

“But that day, there was nothing as such. The attendant told me that they have even reduced their production size to avoid losses.”

Former governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose has distanced himself from the ongoing crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which has been embroiled in internal conflict since the 2023 presidential election.

The party’s troubles have revolved around disputes concerning the position of Umar Damagum, the acting national chairman.

On September 18, Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, who also serves as the chair of the PDP Governors’ Forum, convened a meeting with the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT).

During the meeting, Mohammed indicated that Damagum’s continued tenure as acting national chairman was no longer acceptable.

Amid the escalating tensions, Fayose, in a tweet on Saturday, clarified his stance, stating unequivocally that he has no interest in assuming the position of national chair.

He also urged the public to verify reports using his name, cautioning that there are multiple individuals bearing the Fayose surname in Nigeria.

“I am Peter Ayodele Fayose. As such, stories not clearly stating my name should be disregarded and treated as stories from any of the many other Fayoses in Nigeria,” Fayose tweeted.

He noted his disassociation from the party’s internal disputes, saying, “Most importantly, I’m not part of the drama in the party and will never be. I am also not interested in any political office, either appointed or elective.”

The crisis within the PDP deepened after Damagum was appointed acting chairman in March 2023, following the suspension of Iyorchia Ayu. 

Ahead of the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in April, party members aligned with former presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar expressed concerns that Damagum was allegedly working in favor of Nyesom Wike, sparking internal rifts.

In May, a federal high court in Abuja issued a ruling preventing the PDP from removing Damagum.

Despite this, a faction of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) moved on Friday to suspend both Damagum and Sam Anyanwu, the national secretary.

The court, however, restrained the NEC and the BoT from taking any further action against Damagum or other party officials until the next national convention, scheduled for 2025.

Amid the turmoil, another faction of the PDP appointed Yayari Mohammed as the acting national chair, further complicating the party’s leadership dispute.

The national assembly is considering a bill proposing an increase in the value-added tax (VAT) from 7.5 percent to 10 percent.

VAT refers to a consumption tax on goods and services levied at each stage of the supply chain where value is added.

In the executive bill (that’s from the president) seen by TheCable on Sunday, the national assembly is seeking to raise the tax rate to 10 percent by 2025.

The legislature also intends to increase the VAT to 12.5 percent by 2026 through 2029, according to the document.

“VAT shall be charged on the value of all taxable supplies at the following rates (a) 2025 year of assessment 10%; (b) 2026, 2027 2028 and 2029 years of assessment 12.5% (c) 2030 year of assessment and thereafter 15%,” the document reads.

On May 8, Taiwo Oyedele, chairman of the presidential committee on fiscal policy and tax reforms, had said the VAT rate needs to be increased.

Reacting to the recommendation on September 8, Atiku Abubakar, former vice-president criticised the proposed VAT hike, describing it as a “regressive and punitive policy”.

However, Wale Edun, minister of finance, on September 9, said the VAT rate has been unchanged.

In February 2021, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) had advised the federal government to raise the VAT rate to at least 10 percent by 2022.

CIT TO BE REDUCED TO 27.5% BY 2025

Meanwhile, the bill also proposes a reduction in the corporate income tax (CIT) to 27.5 percent by 2025 — down from 30 percent — and a further cut to 25 percent by 2026.

Companies with less than N20 million turnover are exempted from paying the CIT, according to the bill.

“Tax shall be levied, for each year of assessment in respect of total profits of every company, in the case of; (a) a small company, at zero percent; and (b) any other company, at the rate of-(i) 27.5% in 2025 year of assessment, and(ii) 25% from 2026 year of assessment,” the document added.

“Notwithstanding any provision of this Act or any other enactment, where, in any year of assessment, the effective tax rate of a company is less than 15%, such company shall recompute and pay an additional tax that makes its effective tax rate equal to 15%.

“The provisions of this section shall apply to (a) a company that is a constituent entity of an MNE group; and (b) any other company with an aggregate turnover of N20,000,000,000.00 and above in the relevant year of assessment.

“The companies covered under this section and the determination of the additional tax payable shall be in accordance with regulations issued by the Service.”

On June 4, Oyedele had said the presidential committee on fiscal policy and tax reforms proposed a reduction of the CIT by 5 percent.

He said the tax rate should drop from 30 percent to 25 percent to encourage businesses and investors.

Earlier this month, the federal government released the gazetted withholding tax regulations expected to take effect from January 1, 2025.

The management of Air Peace Limited, Nigeria’s largest airline company, on Sunday, said the ongoing legal proceedings against its founder, Allen Onyema, and Chief of Finance and Administration, Ejiro Eghagha, will not affect the safety, reliability, and daily operations of the airline.

As widely reported, the United States government has added more charges to the $20 million bank fraud case against Onyema, the CEO of Air Peace, as the Nigerian businessman continues to evade trial in an American court.

Although Onyema has denied wrongdoing, he is wanted in the US over the bank fraud charges filed against him and a co-defendant at the District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, in Atlanta since 2019.

However, things got worse for the Air Peace officials last week.

“On 8 October 2024, they were both charged in a superseding indictment alleging an additional count of obstruction of justice and one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice,” the US Attorney Office, Northern District of Georgia, said in a statement on Friday.

The office said Onyema is accused 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 said he submitted false documents to US authorities in 2019 in an effort to stop the investigation and unfreeze his bank accounts regarding the alleged $20 million bank fraud.

Ejiroghene Eghagha, accused of participating in the alleged obstruction scheme, as well as in the earlier bank fraud counts, is 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.

Air Peace reacts

In a statement issued by the airline and posted on its official X page on Sunday, Air Peace said it understands that the ongoing legal proceedings may have raised concerns.

“These charges levelled against our post-holders are part of an extended legal process stemming from earlier accusations of financial misdeeds that date back several years,” the statement said.

It noted that while the charges have been expanded, it is essential to emphasise that “both Onyema and Eghagha remain innocent and these are mere allegations, and the case is still in court.”

It added that: “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 argued that Onyema and his legal team have consistently cooperated with authorities throughout the legal process and that Air Peace continues to operate without disruption, upholding its commitment to delivering top-notch services to its valued 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 airline said.

Onyema’s Travails

Onyema remains wanted in the United States after an alleged conspirator in the $20 million bank fraud case was sentenced by an American court in September 2022.

In the decision, the US District Court sentenced Ebony Mayfield, an American woman, to three years’ probation for her role in helping to facilitate the alleged fraud.

She escaped the prison sentence because she pleaded guilty early before her trial began.

Her lawyer also anchored her plea for a probated sentence on the grounds that she was remorseful and cooperated with the government during investigations.

They also said she benefitted little from the alleged fraud, with Ms Mayfield confessing that she received only a total of $20,000 for her roles in the alleged conspiracy between 2016 to 2018.

CEO, co-defendant on the run

While Ms Mayfield was battling with her trial, Onyema and Eghagha were allegedly on the run from the charges and arrest warrants.

The US government named Onyema and Eghagha in the 36 charges of conspiracy, money laundering, bank fraud, credit application fraud, and identity theft filed against them on 19 November 2019.

American authorities obtained court warrants for the arrest of the two men in the US and Canada, where part of the suspected proceeds of fraud were said to have been moved.

Earlier, before the charges were filed, Russell Vineyard, a magistrate at the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, on 5 September 2019, issued a corresponding warrant of arrest for Onyema and Eghagha in Canada.

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

Both men have succeeded in evading arrest by American or Canadian authorities since then.

However, US authorities arrested Ms Mayfield on 7 June 2019.

In December 2019, they charged her with signing and submitting fake documents to help Mr Onyema facilitate the $20 million fraud between May 2016 and February 2018. Subsequently, she pleaded guilty and was sentenced in September 2022.

‘Superseding’ indictment

The US government has now filed a superseding indictment in the nearly five years old case, introducing two additional counts, bringing to 38 the total number of counts now pending against Onyema and his co-defendant.

US authorities accused Onyema of moving suspicious funds from Nigeria to American bank accounts between 2017 and 2018, with the funds allegedly disguised as being meant to purchase aircraft.

Onyema and his co-defendant, Eghagha, allegedly organised the fraud by applying for export letters of credit to transfer funds from a Nigerian bank account to the bank account of Onyema’s Atlanta-Georgia-based firm, Springfield Aviation LLC, between 2016 and 2017.

According to US prosecutors, the defendants applied for the funds purportedly to purchase aircraft by Air Peace from Springfield Aviation.

Onyema owns both Air Peace, a major Nigerian commercial airline, and Springfield Aviation, a US-based company.

Prosecutors also said the aircraft referenced in each of the export letters of credit sent to the American banks was never owned or sold by Springfield Aviation.

They said the defendants made false statements and reports, and willfully overvalued property to influence the actions of the American banks.

Eghagha was said to have sent the false documents, including fabricated purchase agreements, bills of sale, and valuation documents, to Ms Mayfield to sign and submit to the respective banks in support of the letters of credit.

Onyema had engaged Ms Mayfield, who was at various times, a bartender, restaurant waitress, and nightclub dancer, in 2016, to act as a manager of Springfield Aviation, and enter into contracts on the firm’s behalf.

Prosecutors said she “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.”

They alleged that Onyema founded and used Springfield Aviation “to facilitate large transfers of funds from his Nigerian bank accounts to the United States.”

Onyema allegedly moved about $15 million from Springfield Aviation’s account with a Wells Fargo Bank branch in Atlanta, Georgia, to his personal savings account with the same bank in 27 transactions in 2017.

Each of the 27 transactions stands alone as a charge of money laundering.

In May 2019, upon discovering that he was under investigation in the Northern District of Georgia for bank fraud, Onyema and Eghagha allegedly directed the Springfield Aviation manager, Ms Mayfield, to sign a key business contract, but also specifically told her to not date the document.

In October 2019, Onyema allegedly caused his attorneys to present that same contract, now falsely dated as being signed on 5 May 2016 (prior to the bank fraud that began in 2016), to the government in an effort to stop the investigation and unfreeze his bank accounts.

The submission of the alleged false documents forms the basis for the new count of obstruction of justice and one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice in the superseding charges.

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