Case against former lawmaker arrested with $499m on election eve withdrawn

Money laundering and criminal charges against a former lawmaker, Chinyere Igwe have been dropped by the Rivers State government. The government through its lawyers, gave no reason for dropping the case. Recall that Igwe was on 24th February, eve of the presidential election, arrested and arraigned before a court, for having in his possession, the sum of $499,000,000 dollars. He was, however, granted bail after some weeks. According to DailyPost, when the matter resumed in court for proper trial on Wednesday morning, Rivers State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Professor Zacchaeus Adangor, announced the withdrawal of the suit. Adangor did not give any reason for the state government’s decision to withdraw the case against Igwe. The trial Judge, Justice Stephen Daylop-Pam, in his ruling, after the position of the state government was not opposed by the defence counsel, discharged the defendant. The judge also ordered the Police to return his international passport and other exhibits seized from him.