About 13 days after his arrest in Port Harcourt with $498,100, Dr. Chinyere Igwe, a member of the House of Representatives, was arraigned on Wednesday in a Federal High Court in the Rivers State capital. Igwe, an ally of Peoples Democratic Party presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, represents Port Harcourt Federal Constituency 2 in the National Assembly’s Green Chamber. He faced a single count of money laundering.
At the start of the proceedings, prosecution counsel M.N. Nweke stated that on February 24 Igwe admitted receiving the cash sum, which he failed to report to the Central Bank of Nigeria or to the Nigeria Customs Service for transportation. The counsel argued that this conduct violated sections of the Money Laundering and Prohibition Act 2011. When the charge was read, Igwe pleaded not guilty, and his lawyer applied for bail. Police counsel objected to the bail request.
Presiding Judge Justice Stephen Daylop‑Pam listened to the arguments and adjourned the case to March 14, 2023, to consider the bail application filed by Igwe’s lawyer, Ibisiki Tonye. The accused was ordered to remain in police custody. Justice Daylop‑Pam also set the start of the criminal trial for May 4, 2023, and directed that Igwe be sent to the Nigeria Police Clinic for medical attention after a report concerning his health.
Igwe was initially arrested with $489,100 and a list detailing the distribution of the money during a stop‑and‑search operation by police on Aba Road on the eve of the presidential election.
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