A Nigerian politician has been arrested for alleged cash laundering after being caught with $498,100 (£414,000) in money a day earlier than common elections.
The wads of US {dollars} had been discovered by police inside Chinyere Igwe’s automobile.
Mr Igwe, an opposition PDP member of the Home of Representatives, was additionally caught with a listing of individuals to present the cash to, police say.
In earlier elections, politicians have been accused of rigging polls by vote shopping for.
Nigeria has just lately issued new banknotes, partly as a way to make it more durable for politicians to amass massive sums of cash as a way to bribe voters.
Nonetheless, not sufficient of the brand new notes are in circulation, resulting in widespread anger and frustration. Folks have been queuing for hours exterior banks as a way to get money, typically with out success, whereas some have attacked banks.
Some 40% of Nigerians wouldn’t have financial institution accounts and so depend on money to purchase meals, and for different on a regular basis makes use of.
In a Twitter thread, police in Rivers State, the place Mr Igwe was arrested, urged “all contestants and political events to conform strictly with provisions of the Electoral Act and different related legal guidelines”.
Mr Igwe, who represents a part of the southern metropolis of Port Harcout, has not but commented on the matter.
The elections are predicted to be essentially the most aggressive for the reason that finish of army rule in 1999, with three candidates – Atiku Abubakar of the PDP, Peter Obi of the Labour Social gathering and Bola Tinubu of the governing APC – all seen as potential winners.
