In a decisive and unanimous ruling, the Supreme Court on Friday sealed the fate of Senator Albert Bassey, affirming his conviction and seven-year prison sentence over a N240 million fraud case and restoring an order compelling him to refund N204 million to Akwa Ibom State.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Delivering the lead judgment on February 27, 2026, Justice Stephen Jonah Adah, speaking for a five-member panel, upheld the earlier decisions of both the trial court and the Court of Appeal. However, the apex court faulted the appellate court for setting aside the restitution order earlier granted by the trial court.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe order of this court is that the conviction and sentencing imposed by the lower court on the 23rd day of June 2023 on the appellant is hereby affirmed,\u201d Justice Adah declared. \u201cHowever, the order of the lower court avoiding the restitution granted by the trial court did not follow the law. It is hereby nullified, and the restitution of N204 million as ordered by the trial court is restored.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The ruling effectively ends a protracted legal battle that began when the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned Bassey before Justice Agatha Okeke of the Federal High Court in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. Prosecuted by EFCC counsel Ekele Iheanacho, SAN, the former Commissioner for Finance faced seven counts of receiving bribes in the form of 12 vehicles valued at N254 million.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On December 1, 2022, the trial court found him guilty on all counts and sentenced him to seven years\u2019 imprisonment on each charge – a cumulative 42 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While the Court of Appeal later upheld the conviction and introduced an option of fine, it set aside the restitution order \u2014 a move the Supreme Court has now reversed, describing it as legally unsound.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With Friday\u2019s verdict, the apex court not only reaffirmed Bassey\u2019s conviction and sentence but also reinstated the financial penalty, bringing finality to a case that has reverberated across Nigeria\u2019s political and legal landscape.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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