The Calabar Division of the Court of Appeal has upheld the conviction of Senator Bassey Albert Akpan on money laundering charges today.
POLITICS NIGERIA reports that the Federal High Court in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, had found Senator Akpan guilty of seven counts of money laundering on December 1, 2022. Justice Agatha Okeke, who presided over the case, sentenced him to 42 years in prison without the option of a fine.
The charges against Senator Akpan were brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and accused him of accepting vehicles worth N240 million as a bribe from companies connected to Olajide Omokore. Omokore, a contractor, had executed a N3 billion contract for the Akwa Ibom State government when Senator Bassey served as the Commissioner for Finance and Chairman of the Inter-Ministerial Direct Labour Coordinating Committee.
The offence is in violation of Section 15 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011, and carries a punishment under Section 15 (3) of the same Act.
Following the judgment, Senator Akpan sought relief in a Court in Port Harcourt, presided over by Justice S. I. Mark of the Federal High Court. On December 29, 2022, he was granted post-conviction bail on health grounds.
Despite his release from prison, Senator Akpan continued his campaign for the governorship of Akwa Ibom State and subsequently filed an appeal with the Appellate Court in Calabar, seeking to overturn Justice Okeke’s verdict.
In today’s ruling, a three-judge panel led by Justice Raphael Chikwe Agbo at the Appellate Court upheld Senator Akpan’s conviction but modified the sentence by granting him the option of paying a fine. The court also ordered the appellant to restitute the sum of N240 million to the Federal Government through the EFCC. The restitution is not a prerequisite for his release from the correctional facility.
The court revoked Senator Akpan’s bail and issued an order for his arrest.
