EX Ambassador Lilian Onoh Files Magnitsky Complaint Against Sowore, EX Minister Onyeama And Others

In a shocking move, Ambassador Lilian Onoh has filed a Magnitsky Complaint against former foreign affairs minister, Geoffrey Onyeama, Omoyele Sowore, Sahara Reporters and its chairwoman LaKeisha Landrum Pierre for engaging in human rights abuses and acts of retaliation against a whistleblower, in violation of the Global Magnitsky Act (2016).

Others mentioned in the complaint include former SGF, Boss Mustapha, former Chief of Staff, Professor Ibrahim Gambari, Justice Keziah Ogbonnaya, Ambassador Janet Olisa, Gabriel Aduda and many high profile officials, including President Tinubu's current adviser on Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye.

In the detailed submission, Onoh gave a comprehensive review of the link between her reports of corruption in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the eleven stories Sahara Reporters has published to attack her credibility and discredit her reports, which would be a violation of the Magnitsky Act and open Sowore and Sahara Reporters to sanctions under the Act.

Her complaint cited Sowores admission that he collected a document that Onyeama concocted against Onoh and published it, despite knowing its falsity. This is a key piece of evidence of proof of collusion between Sowore and Onyeama to target Onoh for reporting acts of corruption in Nigeria's Diplomatic system.

Also cited is a recent publication by Sahara Reporters where they claimed to have a CTC of Justice Keziah Ogbonnaya’s ruling recognising Onyeama as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and acknowledging his gender as “It” and not “He” as further proof of collusion between Sowore, Onyeama and the Judiciary (Keziah Ogbonnaya) to silence her, which is also a violation of the Magnitsky Act.

Onoh had previously asked Onyeama to provide proof of identity and castration per Ogbonnaya’s ruling.
The acts of corruption Onoh reported which were inimical to the interests of the USA, including money laundering through American banks, wire fraud, evasion of U.S taxes, and helping a foreign government engage in acts of retaliation against a whistleblower - the very thing that led to the passing of the Global Magnitsky Act.

Onoh also alleged that the $5million received by Sowore and Sahara Reporters from various American donors were received under false pretence, stating that at the time Sowore presented himself as an anti corruption activist, he had already been engaged by Major General Muhammadu Buhari to carry out the smear campaign against President Goodluck Jonathan with the help of President Tinubu's adviser, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye when she and Enikanolaiye served at the Nigerian High Commission in London.

Other issues in the Magnitsky Complaint include the alleged visa racketeering against the USA by Ambassador Janet Olisa and the VAT fraud against Namibia by another Nigerian charge d’affaires, which the government of Namibia filed a complaint about with no action from Onyeama and Nigeria.

Onoh mentioned the damage to US-Nigeria relations caused by the visa fraud of
Ambassador Janet Olisa, which included cancellation of visas of some Nigerian diplomats.

In another plea, Onoh asked that Sowores asylum application be reviewed in light of allegations that he raped a fellow student at UNILAG and jumped bail after being arrested.
She also asked that his green card be revoked because he worked with a foreign
government to cover up acts of corruption inimical to the interests of the USA and for his assets, including his house in Haworth, New Jersey to be seized if it is determined that he benefited from the funds received from various American donors under false pretence.

Onoh recommended that he be required to refund the money to the donors with interest.
His wife, Opeyemi and his children were listed as possible beneficiaries.
The assets of LaKeisha Landrum Pierre, Chairwoman of Sahara Reporters, were also referred for investigation, especially whether her venture capital firm, Emmeline Ventures, invested stolen funds on behalf of corrupt Nigerian officials.

The complaint was supported by a long list of documentary evidence.
Under the Global Magnitsky Act, those involved in acts of corruption or providing material aid to cover it up or retaliate against whistleblowers are subject to visa revocation, assets freezes and /or forfeiture and other sanctions as applicable.
Onoh listed the victims of the corrupt acts she reported as: The US State Department, US Treasury Department, USCIS (Immigration) and US Banks.

She copied the report to the Ford Foundation, Clooney Foundation and other foundations that sponsored Sowore or advocated for him.
She also copied the mayor of Haworth New Jersey where Sowore lives.