The conviction of Senator Bassey Albert Akpan was on Friday upheld by the Calabar Division of the Court of Appeal.
The Appeal Court also ordered Senator Akpan’s arrest.
Earlier, a Federal High Court, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State convicted Akpan, then governorship candidate of the Young Progressive Party (YPP) on money laundering charges.
Justice Agatha Okeke found the politician guilty of seven counts of money laundering preferred against him by the by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The judge jailed Akpan for 42 years without an option of fine.
The EFCC told the court that Akpan received vehicles valued at N240 million as bribes from companies linked to one Olajide Omokore, a contractor who executed an N3billion contract for the Government of Akwa Ibom State whilst the senator was Commissioner for Finance and Chairman of the Inter-Ministerial Direct Labour Coordinating Committee.
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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 politician on December 29, 2022 secured a post-conviction bail on health grounds from a Vacation Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, presided over by Justice S. I. Mark on December 29, 2022.
However, Akpan kick-started his campaign upon his release from prison and subsequently approached the Appellate Court in Calabar to set aside the judgment of Justice Okeke.
While arguing against the appeal, counsel to the EFCC, Ekele Iheanacho, urged the court to uphold the judgment of the lower Court, dismiss the appeal and revoke the said bail granted to Akpan on the grounds that “the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt and the charge was validly filed”.
Delivering judgment on Friday, the three-man panel of the Appellate Court, led by Justice Raphael Chikwe Agbo, upheld the conviction of Akpan, but varied the sentence by granting the appellant an option of fine.
The Appeal Court also affirmed that the appellant should restitute the sum of N240 million to the Federal Government through the EFCC and that the said restitution shall not be a prerequisite for his release from the correctional facility.
The Court finally revoked the bail and ordered the arrest of Akpan.