The governorship candidate of the Young Progressives Party (YPP), in Akwa Ibom State, who is also the present Senator representing Akwa Ibom North East at the National Assembly, Senator Albert Akpan Bassey, has been convicted and sentenced to 42 years imprisonment by a Federal High Court, sitting in Uyo, the state capital.
The trial judge, Justice Agatha Okeke while delivering judgement on Thursday, December 1, 2022, found him guilty of six-counts of money laundering preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Bassey was prosecuted by the EFCC on allegation of receiving vehicles valued at N204 million as bribe from companies linked to one Olajide Omokore, a contractor who executed a N3billion contract for the Government of Akwa Ibom State while he was Commissioner for Finance and Chairman of the Inter-Ministerial Direct Labour Coordinating Committee.
The vehicles included Infinity QX 56 BP, valued at N45million; Toyota Land Cruiser V8 BP, valued at N40million; Range Rover, valued at N40million; Toyota Hiace, High Roof, valued at N27million; Toyota Hiace High Roof, valued at N16million and Toyota Hilux 4×4, valued at N36million.
The offences according to the EFCC contravenes Section 15 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and is punishable under Section 15 (3) of the same Act.
One of the charges against the senator read: “That you, Albert Bassey, whilst being the Commissioner for Finance, Akwa Ibom State and Chairman of Akwa Ibom State Inter-Ministerial Direct Labour Coordinating Committee, IMDLCC sometime in December 2012, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, indirectly took possession of a vehicle (Infinity QX 56 BP) valued at N45,000,000.00 at the instance of one Olajide Jones Omokore (whose companies had contracts with Akwa Ibom State Government at that material time), when you reasonably ought to have known that the said vehicle formed part of proceed of unlawful activity (to wit: corruption) and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 15 (3) of the same Act.”
Upon arraignment, the Bassey pleaded not guilty to the charges thereby setting the stage for his full trial.
During the period of the trial, the anti-graft agency called several witnesses and tendered documents that were admitted in evidence as exhibits.
One of the witnesses, Ngunan Kakwagh, an investigator with the EFCC, disclosed how Olajide Omokore, a contractor, bought vehicles for Senator Albert after receiving N3bn contracts when he was Commissioner for Finance in Akwa Ibom State.
Kakwagh told the Court that the anti-graft agency traced about N3bn payments from the Akwa Ibom State Government and the Inter-Ministerial Direct Labour Coordinating Committee, to the accounts of Canwod Dredging Company Limited, Bay Atlantic Limited, Sahel Engineering, Power Nigeria Limited and Network Services Nigeria Limited – all linked to Omokore.
According to Kakwagh; “My team further traced money from Omokore’s company account to the account of Skymit Limited, and when we invited Skymit to tell us the reasons for the money, we were told that it was for the purchase of vehicles.
“So, my investigation revealed that the accused, while he was the Commissioner for Finance and Chairman of the Inter-Ministerial Direct Labour Coordinating Committee, Omokore and his companies received monies from the Akwa Ibom State Government and the IMDLCC. Omokore also bought cars from Skymit Limited for the accused,” he said.
The Court on May 5, 2022 closed the case of the defence following the failure of the lead defence counsel, Kanu Agabi, SAN, to continue the trial of the Bassey, who was a serving senator.
While delivering judgment, Justice Okeke declared that the court was satisfied that the prosecution had proved its case against Bassey beyond reasonable doubt and convicted him as charged.
Accordingly, Justice Okeke sentenced Bassey to seven years imprisonment on each of the six count charges and ordered the convict to restitute a total sum of N204million through the EFCC which would be the condition for his release after serving out his jail term.
