CALABAR, Nigeria – The Court of Appeal in Calabar upheld the conviction of Senator Bassey Akpan for money laundering and ordered his immediate arrest on Friday, June 23, 2023.
This decision came after a Federal High Court in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, found Akpan guilty of seven counts of money laundering.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, released a statement on Friday confirming the court’s decision.
The statement by Wilson Uwujaren, the Head of Media and Publicity of EFCC, explained that Justice Agatha Okeke had initially found Akpan guilty on December 1, 2022, and sentenced him to 42 years in prison without the option of a fine.
Akpan, who was a governorship candidate of the Young Progressive Party, YPP, at the time, was prosecuted for allegedly receiving vehicles worth N240 million as bribes from companies linked to a contractor, Olajide Omokore.
The statement detailed that Omokore, who was involved in executing a N3 billion contract for the Government of Akwa Ibom State, had ties to Akpan, who served as Commissioner for Finance and Chairman of the Inter-Ministerial Direct Labour Coordinating Committee during that period.
“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,” the EFCC statement noted.
This case is part of an ongoing effort by Nigerian authorities to crack down on corruption and money laundering, which have been persistent issues in the country.
Legal experts and anti-corruption activists are closely watching the developments in this case as it could set a precedent for future prosecutions involving high-ranking officials.
