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Bassey Albert Akpan, the governorship candidate of the Young Progressives Party (YPP) has bagged a 7-year jail sentence after being arraigned on a six-count charge bordering on money laundering, including graft.
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The YPP governorship candidate who is also a Senator representing Akwa Ibom North-East (Uyo), was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on June 24, 2019 on charges of corruption over the receipt of exotic vehicles estimated at over N204m.
It was revealed that in May 2010, Akpan, who was then the Commissioner for Finance, Akwa Ibom State, reportedly received from one Jide Omokore, a BMW X5 (bullet-proof car) worth N50m; in December 2012, another Infinity QX56 (bullet-proof) worth N45m was also received from the same source.
In November 2013, he received a Toyota Landcruiser V8 (bullet-proof) valued at N40m and in March 2014, he received a Range Rover, valued at N40m; in September 2014, another Toyota Hiace High Roof bus valued at N27m was received from the businessman.
It was also disclosed that at different times between 2012 and 2014, Akpan also received a Toyota Hiace High Roof buses valued at N16m and six units of Toyota Hilux vehicles valued at N36m.
Justice Agatha Okeke who presided over the case, found the senator guilty of the offences.
Delivering judgment on Thursday, December 1, the court ruled that Akpan must serve seven years in prison for each of the six counts. The jail term is to run concurrently. There’s no option of fine.
