This media statement is released on behalf of Mr Iheanyinchukwu Sedote Nwachukwu.
Many reports have been circulated in the media containing false and defamatory allegations made against Mr. Nwachukwu. In particular, allegations that he committed fraud and that a criminal case has been opened against him. Mr. Nwachuwu has delayed in issuing any media statements to first discuss the matter with the relevant authorities. He worked with RAMS Attorneys which represented him legally and helped him handle the matter accordingly. The partner in charge of the matter is Karabo Motshwane, Director of RAMS Attorneys.
Mr. Nwachukwu has now been contacted by the South African Police Service (SAPS) and has agreed to fully cooperate with the SAPS to clear the malicious, false, and defamatory statements made against him.
He records that he is a businessman with integrity and years of experience in the entertainment industry. It is unfortunate that leading up to the Burna Boy event that was to be organised by his company, Ternary Media Group LLC (TMG USA), he was introduced to Mr. Gregory Wings who is a convicted criminal in the USA. Mr. Nwachukwu believes in giving people a second chance and continued to appoint Mr. Wings as TMG USA’s CFO with access to TMG USA’s banking account.
TMG USA had opened an account with Regions Bank, Atlanta, Georgia, USA. The Regions Bank Account was at all times linked to Mr. Nwachukwu’s name, as confirmed in the bank’s letter issued to the company. All monies due to TMG USA were paid into the account for TMG USA’s benefit and not for his personal use. The CFO had full access to this account and service providers were paid from it. This included the FNB stadium management, production company and its affiliates, security firm for the show and all attendees, as well as payments to the artists.
Unfortunately, Mr. Wings opened a company with a similar name – Ternary Media Group Africa (Pty) Ltd (“TMG South Africa”) in South Africa on or about the 22nd of September 2023. He then proceeded to have funds due to TMG USA, diverted to the South African entity. This occurred without knowledge from Mr. Nwachukwu or TMG USA. In doing so, Mr. Wings used the address of a South African resident as he is not a South African citizen, nor does he have an SA work permit.
The new illegal entity entered into a strange arrangement with Ticketpro and diverted sales of tickets meant for the account of TMG USA to the TMG South Africa account. Mr. Wings. collected over five thousand (5,000) tickets valued at about two hundred and fifty thousand US Dollars (US$250,000) from Mandy at Ticketpro. This was a breach of the contract between TMG USA and Ticketpro South Africa.
Mr. Wings merged the TMG USA account, with Paypal, so that he could divert and spend money that was illegally and fraudulently collected without Mr. Nwachukwu’s approval. The revenue from these tickets is yet to be accounted for. Mr. Wings also illegally used his access to the Regions Bank, to debit various unauthorised charges against that account, for his benefit and that of his wife, Mrs. Britney Wings. These debits were initially reversed, but have been reinstated against that Regions Bank Account, and are currently being investigated by Regions Bank and the Cobb County Police, with a petition and report made to the Las Vegas Police.
On the day Mr. Nwachukwu confronted Mr. Wings about the missing funds collected from Ticketpro, no explanation was provided. Instead, Mr. Wings proceeded to file a false police report at the Sandton Police Station. In addition to the fraud on TMG USA, Mr. Wings has committed perjury in alleging under oath that Mr. Nwachukwu diverted TMG USA’s funds to his personal account.
“I want to make the South African public aware that Gregory Wings has no experience in the entertainment industry and has never booked any or been involved in any shows with me. The claim of him being my best friend and knowing me for 15 years is false, I have only known Gregory Wings for about 4 years. His false claims of investing 1.6 million rand into the Burna Boy show that was meant to take place earlier this year are all false. This has all been verified by law enforcement in the USA as well as in South Africa. Gregory Wings is still taking money from investors in South Africa based on my experience and expertise, therefore committing identity theft,” says Mr. Nwachukwu.
Mr. Nwachukwu has instructed his legal firm, RAMS Attorneys to recover monies paid to various suppliers to refund what is due to the investors involved. However, Mr. Wings has through his attorneys attempted to stop the recovery of the monies lost. In addition to addressing demands to Mr. Nwachukwu, he has unsuccessfully attempted to interdict the recovery of the monies. Mr. Nwachukwu intends on instituting defamatory proceedings against Mr. Wings and claims to recover monies from paid suppliers including action proceedings against Mr. Wings for damages.
