Court sentences senator to 42 years imprisonment for receiving N254m car bribe
A Federal High Court in Uyo on Thursday sentenced Sen. Albert Bassey to 42 years in prison for graft and money laundering.
Bassey who is the Akwa Ibom State governorship candidate of the Young Progressives Party (YPP) represents Akwa Ibom Northeast (Uyo) senatorial district in the National Assembly.
Delivering judgment, Justice Agatha Okeke, held that the senator was guilty and convicted him on all the six-count charge bordering on money laundering filed by the prosecution.
The judge also held that the convict must serve seven years for each of the six counts, with the maximum sentence for each count being fourteen years.
Justice Okeke also ordered the senator to return N204m as restitution to the Federal Government after serving the sentence.
Although the counsel for the convict, Solomon Offiong (SAN) had prayed the court to tamper justice with mercy and includes an option of a fine, the judge did not give the convict an option of a fine.
The prosecution had opposed the plea for an option of fine, since the court did not opt for the maximum sentence.
Periscope International recalls that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) had filed the six-count charge against the convict.
The senator was accused of receiving a bribe of 12 cars worth N254 million from an oil marketer, Olajidee Omokore, during his (Albert’s) tenure (2010 – 2014) as commissioner for Finance in Akwa Ibom.
Bassey was a member of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) before he defected months ago to the YPP, where he secured the party’s ticket for the 2023 governorship election.
He was a major challenger to the PDP candidate, Umo Eno, in next year’s governorship election in Akwa Ibom State.
Following his sentencing, the convict was immediately whisked away by prison officials and taken to Ikot Ekpene prison, Akwa Ibom State, where he will serve his prison term.
