The local government chairman, Mr. Nse Ntuen, was on Sunday arrested for alleged money laundering in the United States.
The kinsmen, who spoke to National Mirror on condition of anonymity, lamented that though huge millions of naira accrued to the local government monthly, there was no tangible project executed or youth empowerment project initiated by Ntuen to justify the existence of the council.
The Maryland State Police Department on Sunday morning confirmed the arrest of Mr. Ntuen for smuggling $82, 000 into the United States without declaring it with the Customs officials both in Nigeria and the US. Ntuen was arrested at the BWI International Airport in Baltimore.
An official of the Maryland State Police Department at the airport said the suspect only declared $5,000 when he got to the airport, adding that it was further security checks that indicated that he was still having some bundles of US dollars in his bag. Ntuen was held for over five hours and was later released after the $82, 000 he admitted to have smuggled into the country was confiscated by the police.
A United States-based Akwa Ibom indigene, Adede Steven, said: “I witnessed how this event unfolded. The the gentleman was arrested at the airport for not declaring the excess money.
“He probably post a bailer, surrendered his passport to the prosecuting attorney. No one is accusing him of anything yet. You have to understand the United States jurisprudence. Everyone is accorded equal protection under our law.
“This is not Nigeria where the innocence is thrown in prison while people like the accused gentle man go free. He is presumed innocent until proven guilty. “The custom and immigration will have to proof in court that the gentleman broke the law. If he is smart, he better hire our very own attorney at law Mr. Hope Umana, to defend him.
“If he pleads guilty, that will save the state more embarrassment and media frenzy. One would have expected that Nigerian politicians will learn a lesson or two from previous criminals caught in Western airports.
“Nigerians will never learn to obey the law as stated. Looting Akwa Ibom treasury is not the problem for them, but being so arrogant leaves not much to write home about. I belief the governor should spare himself further embarrassment.
“If you travel to the United States, you will be given a form issued by the US Customs and Border Control. The forms will ask you to list all items you are bringing into the US, whether foodstuffs or clothing. In addition, you will be asked to declare any amount of money you have above $10, 0000 on the form.
“The instructions clearly states that if you underdeclare, the excess amount would be forfeited from you. These forms are usually given to you on board the airplane, about two hours before you land at the airport.”
A councillor in Essien Udim Local Government Area, who did not want his name mentioned, also flayed Ntuen for the alleged offence.
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