The Court of Appeal in Calabar, on Friday, June 23, 2023, upheld the conviction of Senator Bassey Albert Akpan on money laundering charges. The Federal High Court in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State had found Senator Akpan guilty on seven counts of money laundering and sentenced him to 42 years imprisonment without an option of fine. The Court of Appeal also ordered his arrest.
Senator Akpan, who was the governorship candidate of the Young Progressive Party (YPP), was prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for allegedly receiving vehicles worth N240 million as a bribe from companies connected to contractor Olajide Omokore. The bribe was linked to a N3 billion contract awarded by the Akwa Ibom State Government during Senator Akpan’s tenure as the Commissioner for Finance and Chairman of the Inter-Ministerial Direct Labour Coordinating Committee. The offense violated Section 15 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and was punishable under Section 15 (3) of the same Act.
Following his conviction, Senator Akpan secured post-conviction bail on health grounds from a Vacation Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. He continued his campaign to become the governor of Akwa Ibom State after being released from prison and subsequently appealed the judgment of the lower court at the Appellate Court in Calabar.
During the appeal proceedings, the EFCC’s counsel, Ekele Iheanacho, urged the Court to uphold the judgment of the lower court, dismiss the appeal, and revoke Senator Bassey’s bail, stating that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt.
In its judgment, the three-man panel of the Appellate Court, led by Justice Raphael Chikwe Agbo JCA, upheld Senator Akpan’s conviction but modified the sentence by granting him the option of a fine. The Court also ruled that Senator Akpan must restitute the sum of N240 million to the Federal Government through the EFCC. The restitution, however, will not be a prerequisite for his release from the correctional facility. Furthermore, the Court revoked his bail and ordered his arrest.
