On Saturday evening, armed soldiers shut down the popular Banex Plaza in the Wuse 2 district of Abuja after a clash between traders and three soldiers over a phone sale dispute.

According to eyewitness Okechukwu Daniel, the incident began on Saturday afternoon when a young military man returned to a phone shop, claiming a phone he bought about a month ago was faulty.

Daniel, also a trader at Banex Plaza, stated that the seller refused to accept the phone back due to the lengthy period that had passed since the sale.

He said “When the phone seller refused to collect the phone back, the young guy threatened him that he will shut down his shop for refusing to collect the phone, and the seller told him to do his worse.

“That was when he got angry and went to one of the barracks close by and brought two soldiers to come and harass the phone seller for him to collect the phone back.

“When the two soldiers got to the phone shop to threaten the seller, he still refused to collect the phone. The soldiers got angry and wanted to use force on him, that was when other traders came to the rescue of the phone seller and beat up the two soldiers.”

Daniel added that after the soldiers were assaulted, they went back to the barracks to gather reinforcements.

When they returned to Banex Plaza to confront the phone seller and other traders, the traders had already fled from their shops.

He added “When over 50 soldiers who were visibly angry got to the plaza, they could not find the traders that beat up their colleagues, so they decided to shut down the plaza by asking everyone to leave. Anyone found around the plaza was asked to do frog jump and other punishment,”

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has confirmed the transfer of $22,000, recovered from a convicted internet fraudster, Hakeem Olanrewaju, to the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI).

Dele Oyewale, the commission’s spokesperson disclosed on Saturday that the handover took place in Lagos State on Friday.

Acting Director of EFCC Lagos Zonal Command, Michael Wetkas, expressed appreciation for the collaboration and assured of EFCC’s continued efforts in combating financial crimes.

During the event, FBI’s Legal Attaché Charles Smith praised the EFCC for its action.

He said “The EFCC and FBI work collaboratively together, and it is thanks to the EFCC that we can recover funds of this nature, especially from Business email Compromise, BEC.

“This type of crime cripples businesses in the US, and for them to recover the money within one to two years gives hope to the affected companies and brings some level of justice, even if not all subjects have been identified.

“We hope our relationship continues and fosters a more cohesive partnership between the two agencies. If there’s anything the FBI can do to support this investigation, we will do so. We appreciate this on behalf of the FBI and thank the EFCC.”

On August 15, 2023, Justice Nicholas Oweibo of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, mandated that the funds retrieved from Olanrewaju, serving a two-year prison term for identity theft and impersonation, be returned to his victim in the US.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s recent trip to Nigeria has taken a new twist, with reports emerging that they were welcomed by and enjoyed the hospitality of a man currently under federal indictment in the United States.

DailyMail.com reports that CEO and Chairman, Air Peace, Dr. Allen Onyema, who played a prominent in receiving the British royals in Nigeria is currently wanted in the United States.

According to the DailyMail.com, the 59-year-old businessman, is facing a series of charges, connected to an alleged fraud scheme totaling millions of dollars, detailed in a federal indictment filed in November 2019.

Despite his legal troubles, Dr. Onyema played a prominent role in the royal couple’s reception, joining a group of dignitaries to greet them upon their arrival in Lagos on may 12.

The 59-year-old businessman faces multiple charges related to a $20 million money laundering and bank fraud scheme.

Amidst the royals arrival in Nigeria, Dr. Onyema, adorned in navy attire with shades and a striking red kufi hat, stood among a select group of dignitaries.

This ensemble, comprising senior military and government officials, greeted Prince Harry and Meghan Markle as they disembarked from their Air Peace aircraft, capturing a momentous occasion in photographs.

Founded by Dr. Onyema over a decade ago, Air Peace continues to operate as the largest airline in West Africa amidst the ongoing controversy.

According to the indictment Dr Onyema is accused of leveraging his prominent status as a business leader and airline executive to launder over $20 million from Nigeria through US bank accounts.

Notably, there is no indication that Prince Harry or Meghan Markle were aware of Dr Onyema’s background prior to their meeting.

Furthermore, it has been revealed that the royal couple initially intended to use a different airline for their trip, but plans were altered last minute.

Former US Attorney Byung J ‘BJay’ Pak, who initiated the charges, has since left office, with the case now under the purview of US Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia, Ryan Buchanan, who assumed the role in 2022.

Pak commented on the case, stating that Dr Onyema allegedly utilized falsified documents to commit fraud while leveraging his status as a prominent business figure and airline executive, a revelation that casts a shadow over the Sussexes’ “private” tour of Nigeria.

Robert Murphy, the agent overseeing the DEA Atlanta field division, remarked, “Allen Onyema’s portrayal as a wealthy businessman turned out to be a facade.

He exploited the US banking system, but his web of deception and manipulation has now been exposed.”

The indictment further alleges that Onyema established several seemingly innocuous multi-million-dollar asset acquisitions, which were purported fronts for his fraudulent activities.

According to the indictment, Onyema holds positions as the founder and chairman of various organizations in Nigeria, including the Foundation for Ethnic Harmony, International Center for Non-Violence and Peace Development, and All-Time Peace Media Communications Limited.

Starting in 2010, Onyema embarked on frequent trips to Atlanta, where he initiated the opening of numerous personal and business bank accounts.

Over the span of eight years, from 2010 to 2018, it is alleged that more than $44.9 million was transferred into his Atlanta-based accounts from overseas sources.

In 2013, Onyema established Air Peace, and the indictment suggests that in subsequent years, he traveled to the United States and acquired multiple aircraft.

The Department of Justice contends that a portion of the funds used for aircraft purchases, totaling over $3 million, originated from bank accounts associated with the Foundation for Ethnic Harmony, International Center for Non-Violence and Peace Development, All-Time Peace Media Communications Limited, and Every Child Limited.

Furthermore, Air Peace’s Chief of Administration and Finance, Ejiroghene Eghagha, faces charges alongside Onyema.

The charges against both individuals include one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, three counts of bank fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit credit application fraud, and three counts of credit application fraud.

Additionally, Onyema faces 27 separate counts of money laundering, while Eghagha is charged with committing aggravated identity theft in connection with the scheme.

Beginning around May 2016, investigators allege that Onyema and Eghagha orchestrated a scheme using export letters of credit to funnel more than $20 million into Onyema’s Atlanta-based bank accounts. These funds were ostensibly earmarked for the purchase of five Boeing 737 passenger planes for Air Peace.

To support their transactions, the duo provided various documents, including purchase agreements, bills of sale, and appraisals, indicating Air Peace’s acquisition of the aircraft from Springfield Aviation Company LLC, a Georgia-based business. However, investigators assert that these documents were fabricated.

Contrary to the representations made, Springfield Aviation Company LLC, owned by Onyema but managed by an individual with no aviation background, never possessed the aircraft. Additionally, the entity responsible for drafting the appraisals was nonexistent.

In October 2022, Ebony Mayfield, an American citizen and former staff member of Springfield Aviation Company, was sentenced to three years’ probation and fined $4,000 after being charged by the US Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia for her alleged involvement in the scheme.

Dr Onyema and Eghagha continue to face pending charges, with both asserting their innocence in the matter.