Onyema: We Would Not Fold Our Arms and Watch an Innocent Man Victimised – Northern Youth Group Vows to Stage Protest to American Embassy

Northern based pressure group on the aegis of Arewa Youth Patriotic Front (AYPF), has said that the alleged indictment of the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Air Peace, Barr. Allen Onyema by United States Department of Justice, is nothing but a conspiracy to tarnish the image of an innocent and upright citizen.

Onyema was accused by the United States Department of Justice for allegedly moving over $20 million from Nigeria through the United States bank accounts in a scheme involving false documents based on the purchase of airplanes.

In a statement, the National Coordinator and Secretary of the group, Mr. Bagudu Joseph and Malam Yusuf Adamu respectively, said that the they believed strongly that Onyema is been framed up in collaboration with some Nigerians to undermine his business interest across Africa.

The group described Onyema is an upright Nigerian, who believe in the unity of the country.

The Northern group pledged to unveil the names of those Nigerians who are collaborating with their foreign partners to tarnish the image Onyema and his business umpire.

The group further said; “The indictment was hasty and ill-motivated as there have been conflicting statements on the saga coming out of the United States.

“This sudden purported indictment of Barr Allen Onyema, who has been doing business for decades in the US, and for many years he has never been found wanting until now, raises fundamental questions about the bad timing and the growing suspicion of many Nigerians over the motive behind targeting our own distinguished Allen Onyeama.

“Onyema has over the years built a reputation of integrity, a promoter of peace and a hard-working man, and cannot be allowed to be dragged in the mud by a western conspiracy.”

As law-abiding citizens, the group said it has concluded plans to hold a peaceful rally at the US embassy in Nigeria to prove that Barr. Onyema is not guilty of the conspiracy.

It further said; “As much as we will not object to any process aimed at promoting transparency and accountability, yet, we will not fold our arms and watch helplessly and hopelessly as one of our finest is being coerced and pulled down in broad daylight, without an iota of any subsisting clear evidence from a joint investigation between the US law enforcement agencies and Nigeria counterparts to determine the veracity of the claims before unleashing this dreadful move, deliberately aimed at tainting the image of Onyeama.

“We are putting Nigerians on notice that Barrister Allan Onyema is been under trial for standing up in defence and unity of Nigeria. He is been blackmailed and this won’t stand.

“This trial is politically motivated and we will not allow it to stand, we have mobilize our members across the Northern States for the peaceful rally at the US embassy,” the group explained.