The Federal High Court in Uyo on Thursday sentenced Senator Bassey Akpan, the Young Progressives Party‘s (YPP) nominee for governor in Akwa Ibom State, to 42 years in jail for corruption.
Justice Agatha Okeke, the presiding court, found the candidate guilty on six counts that had to do with potential money laundering, including graft.
The YPP candidate was sent to the Ikot-Ekpene Custodial Center to begin his sentence.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission charged Senator Akpan, who represents Akwa Ibom North-East (Uyo), with corruption on June 24, 2019, in connection with the receipt of exotic cars valued at more than N204 million.
A BMW X5 (a bullet-proof car) was allegedly given to Akpan, who was the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Finance at the time, in May 2010 for N50 million. In December 2012, another bullet-proof Infinity QX56 was allegedly given to Akpan from the same source for N45 million.
A second Toyota Landcruiser V8 (bullet-proof) valued at N40 million was given to him in November 2013, and he also received a Range Rover in March 2014 for a similar amount. In September 2014, the businessman also gave him a Toyota Hiace High Roof bus worth N27 million.
Additionally, it was claimed that the senator acquired six Toyota Hilux trucks worth N36 million and eight Toyota Hiace High Roof buses worth N16 million at various points between 2012 and 2014.
On Thursday, the court handed down its decision, determining that Akpan must serve seven years in prison for each of the six counts. The sentence is to be served consecutively.
The possibility of a fine was not mentioned by the judge.
