Founder of Aiteo Group, Mr. Benedict Peters, is currently trapped in a swamp of international money laundering and financial crimes, according to report in Pointblanknews.com.
Mr. Peters is a subject of various indictments both in Europe, United Kingdom, United States of America and Nigeria.
The newspaper reports that a trove of documents, including bank details, has exposed a syndicated string of alleged financial crimes involving Mr. Peters, his companies, cronies, family members and shell companies in which millions of dollars and billions of naira were moved across banks within Nigeria and in the Isle of Man, reputed for being a safe haven for international money launderers. United Bank of Africa, First Bank of Nigeria and Guarantee Trust Bank featured in the heist.
The investigators have recommended that Peters be extradited from Ghana to Nigeria to face charges for numerous corruptions perpetrated by him. The charges include Money Laundering, Fraud, Tax Evasion, Stealing, Conspiracy, Bribery, Economic Crimes and Economic Sabotage.
It would be recalled that Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, had temporally removed his name from a WANTED PERSON list to enable him come back to Nigeria to face prosecution. But he has remained in Ghana after a rash of investigations unearthed multiple financial crimes trailing his many transactions.
Security sources said using INTERPOL to arrest Mr. Peters will not be a problem as they have established a trail of his movement within Africa in his dubiously acquired aircraft with the following details:
REGISTRATION: M-DVJJ; 1. AIRCRAFT TYPE: GULFSTREAM G650 ER 2. AIRCRAFT MANUFACTURER: GULFSTREAM AEROSPACE CORPORATION; 3. AIRCRAFT STATUS: REGISTERED; 4. REGISTERED: 13 APRIL, 2021; 5. REGISTER NO: 1153; 6. CORE NUMBER: 1213; 7. REGISTRATION MARK: M-DVJJ; 8. AIRCRAFT TYPE: GVI; 9. SUB CLASSIFICATION: BIZ JET; 10. SERIAL NUMBER: 6439; 11. MODE S NUMBER: 424B9B
REGISTERED OWNERS: THE PETERS FAMILY G650ER COMPANY LIMITED, Shenstone Strathclyde St Michael, Barbados BB11078
PREVIOUS INTERNATIONAL REGISTRATION: N639GA; COST: $66 MILLION
THE PETERS FAMILY G650ER COMPANY LTD, Registered in Barbados on Domestic Register
Company Registration NO: 45165 AND 166897 REGISTERED 31/12/2020.
The investigation of Mr. Peters was triggered by a case brought before a Federal High in Abuja presided over by Justice Bolaji Olajuwon. The EFCC moved to investigate Marine Assets and Offshore Equipment Limited and Airsafe Aviation Global Limited after establishing against them allegations of Economic Crimes and tax evasion.
The detailed investigation by EFCC established the role of Mr. Peters in the money laundering scheme perpetrated by Airsafe Aviation Global Limited and Marine Assets and Offshore Equipment Limited.
The inquest by EFCC also showed that Sheyi Godfrey Money, a name that featured prominently in the various financial heists and Benedict Peters is one and same individual.
Documentary facts and bank statements clearly shows money trail from Aiteo JV and Aiteo Eastern E & P Co Ltd accounts to Airsafe Global accounts in millions of dollars and naira currency.
Documents and data from company registration companies in Nigeria and the Isle of Man, also showed that Mr. Benedict Peters is either a director or the controller of the various companies linked to the money laundering scam.
Investigators were able to establish the following:
All the companies listed and connected to Mr. Benedict Peters has the same registration address both in Abuja and Lagos.
That Mr. Peters has been remitting millions of dollars between these companies accounts and laundered same to several jurisdictions in and outside Nigeria.
The Investigators also analysed the bank statements of the individuals involved including the accounts to ascertain their culpability and overwhelming evidence abound that linked the individuals including Mr. Peters to the bank accounts.
Some of the findings include that Mr. Peters is the man behind the numerous money laundering schemes perpetrated by AIRSAFE AVIATION GLOBAL LIMITED and MARINE ASSETS AND OFFSHORE EQUIPMENT LIMITED.
According to documents seen by our reporter, the registration address of the various companies being investigated are the same at: 11A Pope John Paul Street, Off Gana Street, Maitama Abuja. This same address is used as the customer address with the bank accounts of the said companies with United Bank of Africa, First Bank of Nigeria and Guarantee Trust Bank.
The investigators insist that money transfers transactions between Aiteo Companies and the various companies linked to the fraud showed that Mr. Peters is the culprit.
Some of the companies and money trails are as follow:
MARINE ASSETS AND OFFSHORE EQUIPMENT LIMITED; RC NO: 1475122; DIRECTORS: SHEYI GODFREY MONEY, CHUKS MACJULIE CHUKWUNWIKE; Address: 11 A POPE JOHN PAUL STREET, OFF GANA STREET MAITAMA, ABUJA
AIRSAFE AVIATION GLOBAL LIMITED; RC NO: 1471493; DIRECTORS: SHEYI GODFREY MONEY, CHUKS MACJULIE CHUKWUNWIKE; Address:11 A POPE JOHN PAUL STREET, OFF GANA STREET MAITAMA,ABUJA
AITEO EASTERN E & P LIMITED; RC NO: 1153065; Address: 11 A POPE JOHN PAUL STREET, OFF GANA STREET MAITAMA, ABUJA
AITEO PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY; RC NO: 1196425; Address: 11 A POPE JOHN PAUL STREET, OFF GANA STREET MAITAMA, ABUJA
AITEO ENERGY RESOURCES LIMITED; RC NO: 1209459; Address: 11 A POPE JOHN PAUL STREET, OFF GANA STREET MAITAMA, ABUJA
AITEO AVIATION SERVICES LIMITED; RC NO: 1247931; 11 A POPE JOHN PAUL STREET, OFF GANA STREET MAITAMA, ABUJA
AIRSAFE TRAVELS LIMITED; RC NO: 1472084, Address: 11 A POPE JOHN PAUL STREET, OFF GANA STREET MAITAMA, ABUJA
COASTAL MARINE AND OFFSHORE SERVICES LIMITED; RC NO: 1474796; Address: 11 A POPE JOHN PAUL STREET, OFF GANA STREET MAITAMA, ABUJA
CENATOR INTEGRATED SERVICES LIMITED; 11 A POPE JOHN PAUL STREET, OFF GANA STREET MAITAMA
ABUJA
VITACAM SERVICES LIMITED; RC NO: 380714; 9A AWORI ROAD, DOLPHIN ESTATE PHASE 11 IKOYI LAGOS
The banks used in the various financial fraud include: ZENITH BANK PLC,
ACCOUNT NO: 2001479559, 1002331095, 507049
89 ALLEN AVENUE IKEJA LAGOS
Mr. Peters is said to own and operate AIRSAFE AVIATION GLOBAL LIMITED, MARINE ASSETS AND OFFSHORE EQUIPMENT LIMITED bank accounts and accounts in the name of SHEYI GODFREY MONEY. Both companies have the same directors and are linked to BENEDICT PETERS.
Investigations also showed that Mr. Peters registered and operates a company in the Isle of Man with the following details:
Company Name: SWIFT CLOUD AVIATION SERVICES LIMITED; Company Number: C009951V
Country of Registration: ISLE OF MAN; Directors:1. Benedict Peters of 8A Agbodogba Street, Parkview Estate, Ikoyi, Lagos, Nigeria
2. Sheyi Godfrey Money of 3 Sijuade Ajadistra, Off Supugbade Street, Eko Meiran, Alimosho Lagos.
Bank statements of AIRSAFE AVIAION GLOBAL LIMITED and SHEYI GODFREY MONEY, showed the remittances made by AITEO JV LIMITED to the company and the individual accounts in millions of dollars and billions of Naira including into the accounts of MARINE ASSETS AND OFFSHORE EQUIPMENT LIMITED.
For instance, AIRSAFE AVIATION GLOBAL LIMITED United Bank of Africa (UBA) account number: 1020965043, Transaction Year: 2018
With Customer Address: 11A POPE JOHN PAUL STREET, OFF GANA, MAITAMA
TELEPHONE: +2348098575737 had some curious transactions thus:
JOKAI GLOBAL SERVICES paid N18 million in 11 instalments in ONE day being 23/10/2018 to AIRSAFE AVIATION GLOBAL LIMITED account totalling N198 million.
JOKAI GLOBAL SERVICES also paid to AIRSAFE AVIATION GLOBAL LIMITED account N12 million in 21 instalments in ONE day being 19/11/2018 totalling N252 million. TOTAL PAYMENT N450 MILLION
JOKAI GLOBAL SERVICES LIMITED was incorporated on 30th August 2013 with RC Number 1138791with sole activity as General Merchandise and Traders.
Jokai Global claimed in its payment description of paying Airsafe for pipeline surveillance, but investigation revealed that both companies are tools for money laundering by Benedict Peters.
Other bank documents showed payment of millions of dollars to accounts linked to Mr. Peters. Investigators said part of the dollars was used for lavish spending in Ghana designer shops and restaurants.
A particular account operated by First Bank of Nigeria detailed several cash deposits and remittances in breach of money laundering regulations.
Persons including Nnenna Peters and Francis Peters, suspected to be members of his family, were listed as beneficiaries and accomplices in the global heist, according to documents still being studied by the newspaper.
