Supreme Court Confirms Seven-Year Sentence for Former Akwa Ibom Finance Commissioner

On Friday, the Supreme Court reaffirmed the seven-year prison sentence and conviction of Bassey Albert, who formerly held the position of finance commissioner in Akwa Ibom State, in connection with a N240 million fraud case.

The court also reinstated an initial judgment that requires Mr. Albert, who subsequently became a senator, to repay N204 million to the Akwa Ibom State Government.

Mr. Albert was found guilty of taking bribes in the form of 12 vehicles back in 2012 when he served as finance commissioner and chaired the Inter- Ministerial Direct Labour Coordinating Committee, receiving these from oil marketer Olajide Omokore, a close associate of the former Minister of Petroleum, Diezani Alison-Madueke.

As reported, Mrs. Alison-Madueke is currently facing a trial for corruption in the UK.

During the proceedings, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alleged that Mr. Omokore's companies provided the cars for Mr. Albert after being awarded N3 billion in contracts by the Akwa Ibom State Government, asserting that these vehicles were acquired through corrupt means.

The EFCC detailed that the vehicles given to Mr. Albert included an Infinity QX 56 BP worth N45 million, a Toyota Land Cruiser V8 BP valued at N40 million, a Range Rover worth N40 million, among others, totaling to corruption proceeds.

According to a press release from the EFCC on Friday evening, a Supreme Court panel consisting of five justices, led by Justice Stephen Adah, unanimously upheld the decisions of both the trial court and the Court of Appeal declaring Mr. Albert guilty of corruption charges.

The release emphasized that the Supreme Court criticized the Court of Appeal for reversing the restitution order set out by the trial court, labeling it a legal misstep.

Justice Adah was quoted stating, “The order of this court is that the conviction and sentencing imposed by the lower court on the 23rd of June 2023 on the appellant is hereby affirmed. However, the order of the lower court that annulled the restitution order made by the trial court did not adhere to the law, so it has been revised, and the restitution payment of N204 million mandated by the trial court is restored.”

Background of the case indicates that Mr. Albert was a finance commissioner during the administration of former Governor Godswill Akpabio when the alleged offenses took place.

The EFCC, represented by prosecutor Ekele Iheanacho, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, charged Mr. Albert at the Federal High Court in Uyo on seven counts related to corruption and abuse of office.

On December 1, 2022, he was convicted on all counts and received a seven-year jail term for each charge, resulting in a total of 42 years in prison, although the sentences were to run concurrently.

Dissatisfied with the ruling, Mr. Albert appealed to the Court of Appeal, which upheld his conviction but allowed an option to pay a fine, a decision that was contested in the Supreme Court.

With Friday's ruling, the Supreme Court concluded the lengthy legal dispute, affirming Mr. Albert's sentence and reinstating the N204 million repayment requirement originally imposed by the trial court.

In addition to his role as commissioner, Mr. Albert served as a senator representing Akwa Ibom North-East from 2015 to 2023 under the PDP. He switched to the Young Progressives Party in 2022 to run for governor of Akwa Ibom, but was defeated by Governor Umo Eno and later joined the APC.