The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on Sunday
reportedly seized the passports of Air Peace Airline boss, Allen Onyema and restricting
his movement.
A source according to The Nation disclosed this."Following his interaction with our detectives, it became imperative to
restrict his movement to the country because we will need him from time to
time.
"We have seized his passports for unfettered comprehensive investigation.
“During our interaction, he maintained his innocence. We
have, however, made progress in our preliminary investigation”.
On the likelihood of extraditing Onyema to the US, the
source added: “This depends on the MLAT between Nigeria and the US. For now, we
are only investigating. Border Closure: Why I support the Federal Government ―
Afe Babalola(Opens in a new browser tab) “The extradition process is within the
purview of the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation.
You should not forget that the EFCC has to investigate,
establish prima facie case and arraigning the suspects in court before any
extradition application can be initiated.
“The US government knows what to do as far as the invocation
of the MLAT is concerned. We are only fulfilling our own part of the
collaboration with the relevant US agencies.”
Onyema, was on 23rd November charged with 27 counts of money
laundering by one U.S. Attorney Byung J. “BJay” Pak.
Mr. Byung said that Onyema moved more than $20 million from
Nigeria through United States bank accounts in a scheme involving false
documents based on the purchase of airplane.
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