Popular Nigerian Senator Sentenced 42 Years For Corruption

A senator representing Akwa Ibom North-East, Bassey Albert has been sentenced to 42 years in prison for corruption by a federal high court in the state.

Albert, before the landmark verdict was a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), when he won the election before defecting to the Young Progressives Party (YPP), in July, 2022, where he emerged as its governorship candidate.

In 2019, he was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a six-count charge of allegedly taking possession of six vehicles worth N204 million when he was finance commissioner in the state.

According to the anti-graft agency, he collected one of the vehicles from Jide Omokore, an associate of Diezani Alison-Madueke, former Minister of Petroleum.

Since the former petroleum minister, Alison-Madueke fled the country attempts by the EFCC to bring her to justice in Nigeria for alleged acts of corruption have failed.

But several of her allies have come under scrutiny with many facing fraud-related charges and prosecution in court.

According to the EFCC, Omokore reportedly had dealings with the state when he offered Bassey the vehicle.

While delivering the judgment on Thursday, the presiding judge, Agatha Okeke, found the senator guilty of all the offenses preferred against him.

He was subsequently sent to Ikot Ekpene prison to serve his jail term.