Admin l Friday, December 2, 2022
UYO, Akwa Ibom – Governorship Aspirant of the Young Progressives Party (YPP) Senator Albert Bassey was on Thursday convicted and sentenced to 42 years imprisonment by a Federal High Court, sitting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
Justice Agatha Okeke found the senator representing Akwa Ibom North East at the National Assembly guilty on six-count of money laundering preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
Senator Bassey was prosecuted by the anti-graft agency on allegation of receiving 15 luxury 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 whilst Senator Bassey was Commissioner for finance and Chairman of the Inter-Ministerial Direct Labour Coordinating Committee.
The offence 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 Senator Albert Bassey reads:
“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 senator pleaded not guilty to the charges setting the stage for his full trial.
