Bassey Akpan, the Young Progressives party candidate for governor in Akwa Ibom state was sentenced to 42-year imprisonment on Thursday, December 1, by the Federal High Court in Uyo for corruption.
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.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission charged Senator Akpan, who was a senator of Akwa Ibom North-East, on June 24, 2019, with six charges of corruption-related offenses related to receiving exotic cars valued at more over N204 million.
It was alleged that on May 10, 2010, Akpan, who was the state’s commissioner for finance at the time, acquired a BMW X5 bulletproof car for N50 million from one named Jide Omokore.
He also received an Infinity QX 56 bulletproof car worth N45 million from the same Jide Omokore.
Also in November 2013, he received a Toyota Landcruiser V8 bulletproof car 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.
At different times between 2012-2014, it was alleged that he received Toyota Hiace High Roof buses valued at N16 million and six units of Toyota Hilux vehicles valued at N36 million.
Delivering the judgment on Thursday December 1, the court declared that he was to serve seven years for each of the six charges filed against him. There was no option for fine.
The jail term will run concurrently.
