Supreme Court Affirms Albert Bassey’s Conviction, Restores N204m Refund Order

The Supreme Court of Nigeria has affirmed the conviction and seven-year prison sentence imposed on Senator Albert Bassey in connection with a N240 million fraud case.

In a unanimous judgment delivered on Friday, a five-member panel of the apex court led by Justice Stephen Jonah Adah upheld the decisions of both the trial court and the Court of Appeal, confirming Bassey’s conviction. The court also reinstated an earlier order directing him to refund N204 million to the Akwa Ibom State Government.

Justice Adah ruled that although the Court of Appeal was right to uphold the conviction and sentence delivered on June 23, 2023, it erred in setting aside the restitution order made by the trial court. He declared that the appellate court’s decision nullifying the restitution “did not follow the law” and consequently restored the order for repayment.

Bassey represented Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District in the Senate from June 2015 to January 2023. Before then, he served as Commissioner for Finance in Akwa Ibom State between 2007 and 2014.

His prosecution stemmed from charges filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before Justice Agatha Okeke of the Federal High Court in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. The anti-graft agency accused him of receiving bribes in the form of 12 vehicles valued at N254 million while serving as finance commissioner.

On December 1, 2022, the trial court found him guilty on all seven counts and sentenced him to seven years’ imprisonment on each count, amounting to 42 years in total. However, the sentences were ordered to run concurrently.

Bassey subsequently appealed the judgment. A three-member panel of the Court of Appeal led by Justice Raphael Chikwe Agbo upheld his conviction but granted him an option of fine.

The Supreme Court’s ruling has now effectively settled the case, affirming both the conviction and the seven-year jail term while restoring the restitution order.