Akwa Ibom YPP Governorship Candidate Sentenced To 42-Year Imprisonment

The governorship candidate of the Young Progressives party in the state, Bassey Akpan, has been jailed.

He was sentenced to 42 years imprisonment for corruption by the Federal High Court sitting in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, on Thursday.

The presiding judge, Justice Agatha Okeke, convicted the YPP candidate on six charges bordering on money laundering, including graft.

The YPP candidate has been taken to Ikot-Ekpene Correctional Facility, where he is to serve the jail term.

Akpan, who is the Senator representing Akwa Ibom North-East (Uyo), was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Cromes Commission on June 24, 2019 on six counts bordering on corruption over receipt of exotic vehicles estimated at over N204m.

In May 10, 2010, Akpan who was then the Commissioner for Finance in the state was alleged to have received from one Jide Omokore a BMW X5 (Bulletproof) worth N50 million.

In December 2012, another Infinity QX 56(bulletproof) worth N45 million was also received from the same source.

Again, in November 2013, he received a Toyota Landcruiser V8( bulletproof) valued at N40 million and in March 2014, he received a Range Rover, valued at N40 million.

In September 2014, another Toyota Hiace High Roof bus valued at N27 million was received from the businessman.

The senator was also alleged to have received at different times between 2012-2014,Toyota Hiace High Roof buses valued at N16 million and six units of Toyota Hilux vehicles valued at N36 million.

Delivering the judgement on Thursday, the court pronounced that he was to serve seven years for each of the six charges. The judge did not include an option of fine.

The jail term is to run concurrently.

Defence counsel, Solomon Offiong (SAN) pleaded that the court tamper justice with mercy and include an option of fine.

But that was opposed by EFCC, citing legal authority to convince the court not to give fine as an option, particularly in the light of the fact that the court had not opted for the maximum sentence.