Reps Member Arrested With $498,100 Arraigned In Port Harcourt

A House of Representatives member from Rivers State, Chinyere Igwe, who was arrested with 498,100 dollars before the presidential and National Assembly elections, has been arraigned.

His trial resumed in Court 4 at the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State on Wednesday.

The charge sheet dated March 6, 2023, read, “That you Hon. Chinyere Igwe ‘m’ on the 24th day of February, 2023 at about 01:35hrs at No. 181 Aba Road, by GRA Junction, Port Harcourt within the Port Harcourt Magisterial District did accept cash payment of $498,000 USD which you which you have in your possession and did not make a report to the Central Bank of Nigeria and did not declare its transportation to the Nigerian Customs Service and thereby committed an offence contrary to Sections 1 (a), (1) (2) (3) of the Money Laundering (prohibition) Act, 2011 and punishable under Section 2 (5) of same Act.”

The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the one count against him by the police.

The federal lawmaker, who appeared to be in a high spirit, was led by the prosecution team to the court

The court was presided over by Justice Stephen Daylop-Pam.

Igwe, who represents Port Harcourt Federal Constituency 2, was said to be arrested with 498,100 dollars during a stop and search operation at about 2:45 am on February 24, 2023.

The police said the suspect was apprehended close to the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) with a list for the distribution of the money.