A Nigerian lawyer based in the United States of America has offered free legal services to Air Peace CEO Allen Onyema, who was recently indicted for alleged fraud and money laundering by the U.S. Government.

The lawyer, Dr. Asukwo Mendie Archibong Esq., Managing Partner at Archibong Law Firm, Washington DC/Maryland U.S., made the offer while speaking with News Express Publisher Isaac Umunna on phone yesterday night, Monday, November 25, 2019.

He later sent a statement in which he repeated the offer and gave reasons for it.

“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,” Dr. Archibong, who is also a politician, wrote in the statement.

Below is the text of the statement by the lawyer, who was the Presidential Candidate of Nigeria For Democracy (NFD) party during the 2019 presidential polls in Nigeria:

“CHIEF ALLEN ONYEMA'S INDICTMENT: A Time for Me to Act

“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. At this point, no matter what anyone believes, he is presumed to be innocent.

“Earlier this year, Chief 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. Consequently, I strongly urge the Nigerian Embassy in Washington D.C. and the Ambassador of Nigeria to the United States, to take a personal interest in this matter and to step up and assist Chief Onyema in everywhere legally possible. Generally, 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.

“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 stake holder 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. I call on all Nigerians, in the meantime, to support him with prayers. God be with Chief Allen Onyema at this time. Amen.”

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