The Police have arraigned a member of the House of Representatives, Chinyere Igwe who was allegedly arrested with a huge amount of money in dollars on the eve of the Presidential and National Assembly elections in the state.
The lawmaker, who represents Port Harcourt Federal Constituency 2 was said to have been arrested with the sum of 498, 000 dollars, an amount the police said constituted a money laundering offence.
The lawmaker at the beginning of proceeding at a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt pleaded NOT guilty to the one count charge preferred against him by the Inspector General of Police.
The 57 years old is to be prosecuted by the Inspector General of Police at the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt over an alleged money laundering offence.
At the start of the proceeding in Courtroom 4, the prosecution counsel M. N. Nwaeke in a one count charge, dated March 6, said the accused on February 24 at about 1:35 am in the GRA junction on Aba road, accepted that he received a cash payment of 498,000 dollars, which he did not report to the CBN and did not disclose its source to the Nigeria Customs Service.
She said the act contravenes sections 1 (a) and 2 (1) (2) and (3) of the Money Laundering (prohibition) Act, 2011 and is punishable under section 2(5)/of the same Act.
The lawmaker, however, pleaded NOT guilty to the one-count charge, dated March 6, 2023.
The presiding judge, Justice Stephen Daylop-Pam, thereafter, adjourned to Tuesday, March 14 for consideration of the bail application by the defence counsel, Ibisiki Tonye, while the accused will be held in the custody of the Police.
The Judge also announced May 4 as the date for the commencement of criminal trial.
