Akwa Ibom Senator jailed 42 years for taking N254 million, 12 cars bribe

Senator representing Akwa Ibom Northeast Senatorial district, Albert Bassey Akpan has been sentenced to 42 years imprisonment by a Federal High Court sitting in Uyo on Thursday.

The embattled lawmaker who is a ranking Senator was formerly a member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party before he defected to the Young Progressives Party (YPP) where he became the governorship candidate for the 2023 general election.

He was prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for receiving bribe to the tune of N254 million and 12 cars from an oil marketer, Olajidee Omokere when he was Commissioner for Finance in Godswill Akpabio’s government between 2010 – 2014.

The convicted lawmaker was immediately moved to Ikot Ekpene prisons, Akwa Ibom State, to serve his prison term amid wailing by some of his political supporters.

He was a major challenger to the PDP candidate and the All Progressives Congress (APC), in next year’s governorship election in Akwa Ibom State.

Until recently, Senator Akpan had good relationship with the sitting governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel.