Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were reportedly greeted in Lagos, Nigeria, by Dr. Allen Onyema, a fugitive wanted in the United States for money laundering and bank fraud.
Onyema, 59, is the founder and CEO of Air Peace, the Nigerian airline the Duke and Duchess of Sussex used for their three-day tour of the country.
The Daily Mail reported that Onyema, a prominent figure in Nigeria, has been under a US federal indictment since November 2019. The US Department of Justice (DOJ) charged him with illegally transferring over $20 million from Nigeria through US bank accounts using falsified documents related to the purchase of aeroplanes.
Onyema allegedly used this laundered money to buy luxury cars and designer goods, including a Lexus, a Rolls Royce, and items from Prada and Louis Vuitton. Despite these serious allegations, Onyema has consistently maintained his innocence.
In response to the charges, Onyema stated in 2019, “Be rest assured that I also have my lawyers on this, and these mere allegations will be refuted.” He further asserted, “I never laundered money in my life, neither have I committed bank fraud anywhere in the world.”
Onyema claimed that every transaction he made was legitimate, saying, “Every Kobo [Nigerian currency] I transferred to the US for aircraft purchase went through the Central Bank of Nigeria LC regime, and all were used for the same purpose.”
According to the DOJ, Onyema opened several personal and business bank accounts in Atlanta in 2010. Over $44.9 million was allegedly transferred into these accounts from foreign sources between 2010 and 2018.
US Attorney Byung J. “BJay” Pak commented on the case, saying, “Onyema allegedly leveraged his status as a prominent business leader and airline executive while using falsified documents to commit fraud.” He emphasized the DOJ’s commitment to protecting the integrity of the banking system.
It remains unclear if Harry and Meghan knew the charges against Onyema during their visit.
The couple spent three days in Nigeria after being invited by the country’s chief of defence staff, the highest-ranking military official.
Sources within the UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office told the Daily Mail that Harry and Meghan were “visiting Nigeria in a private capacity” and that the UK government was not involved in “arranging or facilitating” their activities.
However, critics have claimed that the trip closely resembled a “royal tour,” despite the Sussexes having ceased being working royals in 2020. The visit included receptions, school visits, and meetings with wounded soldiers and people with disabilities.
Dressed in navy and wearing shades and a red kufi hat, Onyema was a small group of dignitaries, including senior military and government officials, photographed alongside the Sussexes as they deboarded their Air Peace aircraft.
The resemblance to an official royal visit has reportedly angered Prince William and King Charles. Author and royal expert Tom Quinn told the Mirror, “Charles is said to be angrier than anyone has ever seen him.”
Quinn explained that “Everything you might expect from an official royal visit was there—the receptions, the visits to schools and charities, to wounded soldiers and the disabled.” This has added to the royal family’s frustration.
The visit’s fallout reflects ongoing tensions within the royal family regarding Harry and Meghan’s activities since stepping back from their official duties. Their actions continue to draw scrutiny and criticism from the public and the royal establishment.
