Nigerian lawmaker Chinyere Emmanuel Igwe is from Rivers State and is a member of the People’s Democratic Party. He was ushered in on December 18, 2015, and is currently serving as the Commissioner of Urban Development. He previously represented Port Harcourt II in the Nigerian House of Reps from 2007 to 2011.
During a stop and search exercise early on Friday morning, Rivers police officers detained Chinyere Igwe, a member of the House of Representatives and a supporter of PDP presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, with approximately $500,000.
Police officers detained the legislator, who was a key figure in Rivers’ PDP presidential campaign, at around 2.45 am on Friday along the Port Harcourt/Aba Road.
Igwe, the representative for Port Harcourt II Federal Constituency 2 in the House of Reps, was detained, according to the Rivers State Police Command.
The lawmaker had 498,100 US Dollars hidden inside a bag in his car when police halted and searched it, according to SP Grace Iringe-Koko, a spokeswoman for the Police Command.
She continued by saying that an inventory of the funds’ intended distribution had also been found.
A list for the money’s dispersal was also found. The AIG Election, AIG Abutu Yaro directed his quick questioning and court arraignment.
“The Command urges all candidates and political parties to rigorously abide by the Electoral Act’s provisions and other pertinent laws.
The police spokesman issued a statement encouraging the public to use the following hotlines to report any observations they think could result in criminal activity or a breakdown of law and order: 08032003514, 08098880134.
According to an analysis of the list the funds were to be distributed among Rivers State’s local governments, the police, and INEC employees.
Early on Friday, video of the lawmaker’s arrest and questioning regarding an alleged scheme to bribe INEC employees and security personnel in order to purchase votes for Atiku in Rivers State went viral.
“Hon. Chinyere Igwe, a PDP member of the House of Representatives, was detained early on Friday morning in Port Harcourt with more than $500,000, which he claimed Atiku had provided him to guarantee his electoral victory in Rivers State.
“The authorities also found the formula for sharing on him. According to one of the widely circulated stories, they intended to donate money to Security and INEC using this document.
Recall that WishFm Port Harcourt and the Atlantic Television Network, owned by Igwe, were allegedly attacked a few days ago. During the alleged attack, the broadcast organizations’ transformer and industrial generator were allegedly destroyed.