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Supreme Court jails ex-Senator Albert Bassey for fraud conviction
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Court affirms seven-year sentence and restores ₦204m restitution order
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EFCC prosecution linked fraud to bribes received as finance commissioner
The Supreme Court has affirmed the conviction and seven-year prison sentence of former senator Albert Bassey over fraud involving ₦204 million belonging to Akwa Ibom State.
The apex court upheld the earlier judgments of the trial court and the Court of Appeal, while also restoring the order directing Bassey to refund ₦204 million to the Akwa Ibom State Government.
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In a statement issued by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the judgment was delivered by Justice Stephen Jonah Adah on behalf of a five-member panel of the Supreme Court.
The court ruled that the conviction and sentence imposed by the lower court on June 23, 2023, remained valid, but noted that the Court of Appeal erred by setting aside the restitution order earlier granted by the trial court.
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Justice Adah therefore reinstated the order requiring the former senator to refund the ₦204 million obtained unlawfully.
Bassey was prosecuted by the EFCC before the Federal High Court in Uyo for receiving bribes in the form of 12 vehicles valued at about ₦254 million while serving as Commissioner for Finance in Akwa Ibom State.
He was initially convicted on seven counts of corruption charges and sentenced to seven years imprisonment on each count.
Although the Court of Appeal upheld the conviction with an option of fine, the Supreme Court reviewed the case and affirmed the custodial sentence while restoring the restitution order.
