Indications emerged on Friday that the Peoples Democratic Party Campaign Council (PDP PCC) had doled out whooping N1.5bn in US Dollars to some of its members in Rivers State to deliver its presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar on Saturday.
The Rivers Police command, on Friday morning arrested a member of the PDPPCC and member of the House of Representatives, Chinyere Igwe, with about $500,000 in Port Harcourt.
It was gathered that Igwe, who represents Port Harcourt II Federal Constituency, was arrested along the popular Aba Road in Port Harcourt at about 2:45pm by a police crack team on stop and search duty.
The heap notes of dollars and a document entitled 2023 Presidential Election containing how about $1.5m were distributed according to the 23 local government areas were recovered from him.
The Rivers Police command confirmed the lawmaker’s arrest saying Igwe was nabbed for money laundering.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Grace Iringe-Koko, who confirmed the arrest adding that a distribution list was also recovered from the lawmaker.
Iringe-Koko in the statement titled: “Rivers Police Arrest Hon Chinyere Igwe For Money Laundering”, said: Police Officers from Rivers State Command deployed to INEC Headquarters Aba Road today 24/2/2023 at about 0245hrs, while on stop and search, arrested one Hon Chinyere Igwe, member House of Representatives representing Port Harcourt II Federal Constituency with a cash sum of 498,100 USD inside a bag in his car.
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“Also recovered was a list for distribution of the money. The AIG Election, AIG Abutu Yaro fdc , has ordered swift interrogation and arraignment in court.
“The Command urges all contestants and political parties to comply strictly with provisions of the Electoral Act and other relevant laws.
“Members of the public are encouraged to avail themselves of the following hotlines to report any observation they believe have potential to lead to crime or break down of law and order”.
The list on how Atiku’s PCC intended to distribute the money showed that N29m was to be spent on INEC while N36.5m would be splashed on security agencies in the State.
Obio-Akpor, the Rivers local government area with the highest number of voters, was given $231,500 (N211m) with Tai local government area receiving $34,400 (N30m).
Others in USD are Abua-Odua, 37,400 (N43m); Ahoada East, 40,100 (N36m); Ahoada West, N35m; Akuku-Toru, 41,200(N48m); Andoni, 57,300(N52m); Asari-Toru, 55,100(N49.6m; Bonny, N35m; Degema, 42,785(N38m); Eleme, 50,500(N45.6m) and Emohua, 57,600(N54m).
Others in USD are Etche, 58,900 (N53m); Gokana, 56,200 (N50.8m); Ikwere, 67,300 (N60.8m); Khana, 70,300 (N64.5m); Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni, 71,000 (N64.4m); Ogu/Bolo, 39,300(N34m); Okirika 39,700 (N35M.6m); Omuma, 37,400 (N33.6m); Opobo-Nkoro 37,200 (N33m); Oyigbo, 47,300(N42.6m) and Port Harcourt, 205,900 (N185m).
Igwe, in a leaked video during interrogations, confessed that the money recovered from him was meant for elections.
Answering questions from the interrogator, Igwe said: “I was driving home early hours of today. Some stop and search policemen flagged me down at Aba Road. I pulled over, they came and searched and saw the money in my possession.
“The money is what I want to use to support our party for election. It is my personal money. The one that is not my personal money the party gave it to me. The money was given to me yesterday in the afternoon and I left it in the car”.
Igwe, however, failed to respond to questions of where he was given the money and who gave him the cash.