On Thursday, the Federal High Court in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State’s capital, sentenced Bassey Akpan, the governorship candidate of the state’s Young Progressives party, to 42 years in jail for corruption.
The presiding court, Justice Agatha Okeke, convicted the YPP candidate on six money laundering-related offences, including graft.
The YPP candidate has been brought to the Ikot-Ekpene Correctional Facility to fulfill his sentence.
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On June 24, 2019, Akpan, the Senator representing Akwa Ibom North-East (Uyo), was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on six counts of corruption in connection with the receipt of exotic automobiles worth over N204 million.
On May 10, 2010, Akpan, the state’s Commissioner for Finance at the time, was accused of receiving a BMW X5 (Bulletproof) for N50 million from one Jide Omokore.
Another Infinity QX 56(bulletproof) for N45 million was obtained from the same source in December 2012.
Again, he obtained a Toyota Landcruiser V8(bulletproof) valued at N40 million in November 2013, and a Range Rover valued at N40 million in March 2014.
The businessman obtained another Toyota Hiace High Roof bus for N27 million in September 2014.
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The senator was also accused of receiving Toyota Hiace High Roof buses worth N16 million and six Toyota Hilux cars worth N36 million between 2012 and 2014.
The court ruled on Thursday that he will serve seven years in prison for each of the six accusations. The judge did not include a fine option.
The sentence will be served consecutively.
Solomon Offiong (SAN), the defense attorney, pleaded with the court to mix justice with mercy and add a fine option.
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However, the EFCC objected, citing legal authority to convince the court that a fine was not an option, especially given that the court had not opted for the maximum sentence.
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