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Money Laundering: Court sentences Senator to 42 years imprisonment
The Senator representing Akwa Ibom North East at the National Assembly, Albert Bassey, has been sentenced to 42 years imprisonment by Justice Agatha Okeke of the Federal High, Uyo, Akwa Ibom state.
The court on Thursday found him guilty of six-count of money laundering preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
Senator Bassey was prosecuted by the anti-graft agency on allegation of receiving vehicles valued at N204 million as bribes from companies linked to one Olajide Omokore, a contractor who executed a N3billion contract for the Government of Akwa Ibom State while Senator Bassey was Commissioner for Finance and Chairman of the Inter-Ministerial Direct Labour Coordinating Committee.
The offence contravenes Section 15 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and is punishable under Section 15 (3) of the same Act.
One of the charges against the senator reads, “That you, Albert Bassey, whilst being the Commissioner for Finance, Akwa Ibom State and Chairman of Akwa Ibom State Inter-Ministerial Direct Labour Coordinating Committee, IMDLCC sometime in December 2012, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, indirectly took possession of a vehicle (Infinity QX 56 BP) valued at N45,000,000.00 at the instance of one Olajide Jones Omokore (whose companies had contracts with Akwa Ibom State Government at that material time), when you reasonably ought to have known that the said vehicle formed part of proceed of unlawful activity (to wit: corruption) and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 15 (3) of the same Act.”
Upon arraignment, the Senator pleaded not guilty to the charges setting the stage for his full trial. In the course of the trial, EFCC called several witnesses and tendered documents that were admitted in evidence as exhibits.
One of the witnesses, Ngunan Kakwagh, an investigator with the EFCC revealed how Olajide Omokore, a contractor, bought vehicles for Senator Albert after receiving N3 billion contracts when he was Commissioner for Finance in Akwa Ibom State.
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Kakwagh informed the court that the anti-graft agency traced about N3billion payments from the Akwa Ibom State Government and the Inter-Ministerial Direct Labour Coordinating Committee to the accounts of Canwood Dredging Company Limited, Bay Atlantic Limited, Sahel Engineering, Power Nigeria Limited and Network Services Nigeria Limited – all linked to Omokore.
“My team further traced money from Omokore’s company account to the account of Skymit Limited, and when we invited Skymit to tell us the reasons for the money, we were told that it was for the purchase of vehicles.
“So, my investigation revealed that the accused, while he was the Commissioner for Finance and Chairman of the Inter-Ministerial Direct Labour Coordinating Committee, Omokore and his companies received monies from the Akwa Ibom State Government and the IMDLCC.
“Also, Omokore bought cars from Skymit Limited for the accused,” the witness added.
The vehicles include Infinity QX 56 BP, valued at N45million; Toyota Land Cruiser V8 BP, valued at N40million; Range Rover, valued at N40million; Toyota Hiace, High Roof, valued at N27million; Toyota Hiace High Roof, valued at N16million and Toyota Hilux 4×4, valued at N36 million.
The court on May 5, 2022, closed the case of the defence following the failure of the lead defence counsel, Kanu Agabi to continue the trial of the serving senator.
Delivering judgment, Justice Okeke held that the court was satisfied that the prosecution had proven the case against the defendant beyond reasonable doubt and convicted him as charged.
