Bermuda's Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has filed a writ in Supreme Court under the Proceeds of Crime Act against a Nigerian Prince.

It is believed Prince Abubakar Audu is suspected of a money laundering crime in Bermuda, but the information could not be locally confirmed because a representative of the DPP Office declined comment.

However, according to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in Abuja, Nigeria, the Bermuda Government accuses Prince Audu of laundering $5 million through the Island's banks.

It is believed all or some of the money was stopped and seized after one of the local banks tipped off Bermudian investigators to irregular activity.

The information was first reported by Omoyele Sowore, a Nigerian journalist based in New York.

According to Mr. Sowore, Prince Audu used to be Governor of a state called Kogi State, in Nigeria's North Central region, but lost a re-election bid.

During his time in office, Prince Audu was widely suspected of stealing money from the Government and spending it lavishly around the world on mansions and other luxuries. He was never tried for those alleged crimes because the Nigerian constitution prevents high ranking officials from prosecution.

When Price Audu lost the Kogi State election in 2003, he joined the People's Democratic Party (PDP), which is the party of the President. That move by the Prince further insulated him from criminal investigation.

However, anxious to once again become the head of state in Kogi, Prince Audu left the PDP to run for Governor again — under the umbrella of another party. In doing so, he opened himself to prosecution.

So with the election campaign in full swing and election day scheduled for April 14, Prince Audu was officially charged a few weeks ago, according to Mr. Sowore.

He is out on bail, but is also on trial for alleged false declaration of his assets during his previous tenure as Governor. He is fighting the case through the media while he continues to run for office.

Now he may also have to fight a hearing in Bermuda. The local Supreme Court writ was filed on March 5.

Mr. Sowore suspects the Prince was attempting to launder money through Bermuda in an effort to fund his election campaign which could still be successful despite the six-count charge from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in Nigeria.

In fact, if Prince Audu wins the election next month, the Nigerian criminal trial basically goes away.

Mr. Sowore said: "He could win if he has enough money to run. Whoever has the highest amount of money wins the election."