The anti-graft war has caught one of the politically exposed persons as Justice Agatha Okeke of the Federal High Court in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, has sentenced Senator Albert Bassey (YPP, Akwa Ibom North East) to 42 years imprisonment without an option of fine, following his involvement in money laundering.
Delivering her judgment on Thursday, Justice Okeke held that the court was satisfied that the prosecuting Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had proved the case against Senator Bassey beyond reasonable doubt and convicted him as charged.
The judge further directed Senator Bassey to serve seven years for each of the six charges, adding that the jail term would run concurrently.
Under allocutus (plea for mercy), one of the lead lawyers to Bassey, Mr Solomon Offiong (SAN), pleaded with the judge to temper justice with mercy and include an option of fine.
But the EFCC opposed the request, citing legal authority to convince the court not to give a fine as an option, citing the fact that the court had not opted for the maximum sentence.
The convicted senator was said to have been taken to Ikot-Ekpene Correctional Facility where he is expected to serve his jail term.
The convicted senator was a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the ruling party in Akwa Ibom State, before he defected from the PDP a couple of months ago and joined the Young Progressives Party (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.
The EFCC had brought Senator Bassey before the court and preferred a six-count charge of money laundering against him.
The anti-graft agency also accused Senator Bassey of receiving vehicle valued at N204 million as bribe from companies linked to Olajide Omokore, a contractor who executed a N3billion contract for Akwa Ibom State Government whilst Senator Bassey was Commissioner for Finance and Chairman of the Inter-Ministerial Direct Labour Coordinating Committee.
Jide Omokore is an associate of the former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke.
According to the EFCC, the offence is contrary to 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 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 (Infiniti QX56 BP) valued at N45million 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, Senator Bassey pleaded not guilty to the charge, thus setting the stage for his full trial. In the course of trial, EFCC called several witnesses and tendered documents that were admitted in evidence as exhibits.
One of the witnesses, Ngunan Kakwagh, an investigating officer with the EFCC revealed how Olajide Omokore, a contractor, bought vehicles for Senator Albert after receiving N3billion contracts when he was Commissioner for Finance in Akwa Ibom State.
Kakwagh also informed the court that the anti-graft agency traced about N3billion 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.
The witness said, “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.
“Also, Omokore bought cars from Skymit Limited for the accused”.
The vehicles include Infiniti 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 court had on May 5, closed the case of the defence, following the failure of the lead defence lawyer, Mr Kanu Agabi (SAN) to continue with the trial of the serving senator.
