Federal High Court in Uyo has sentenced the governorship candidate of the Young Progressives Party (YPP), Senator Bassey Albert, to 42 years in prison for fraud and money laundering.
Albert, who represents Akwa Ibom Northeast (Uyo) senatorial district in the National Assembly, was convicted on Thursday by Justice Agatha Okeke.
He was prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The court found the senator guilty and convicted him on the whole six-count charge bordering on money laundering.
He was immediately taken to Ikot Ekpene Prison, Akwa Ibom State, to serve his term.
Albert 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.
The maximum sentence for each count is fourteen years. The judge pronounced that he is to serve seven years for each of the six counts.
He is to return N204million as restitution to the Federal Government after serving the sentence.
The judge did not include an option of a fine.
The Defence counsel, Solomon Offiong (SAN), pleaded with the court to tampers justice with mercy by including an option of a fine.
But EFCC opposed the plea, citing legal authority to convince the court not to give a fine as an option of fine, particularly in light of the fact that the court has not opted for the maximum sentence.
The convicted senator was a member of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the State before he defected to the YPP, and 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.
– Media Report