Court sentences Senator Bassey to 42 years in jail for money laundering

Senator Albert Bassey representing Akwa Ibom North East at the National Assembly has been convicted of money laundering.

On Thursday, Justice Agatha Okeke of the Federal High, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State sentenced Senator Bassey to 42 years imprisonment.

The court found the lawmaker guilty of a six-count charge of money laundering preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

EFCC said Senator Bassey was prosecuted by the anti-graft agency on allegation of receiving a vehicle valued at N204 million as a bribe from companies linked to one Olajide Omokore, a contractor who executed a N3billion contract for the Government of Akwa Ibom State while he was Commissioner for Finance and Chairman of the Inter-Ministerial Direct Labour Coordinating Committee.

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, EFCC said.