Akwa Ibom state gubernatorial candidate, Bassey Akpan’s fraud conviction is upheld by an appeal court in Akwa Ibom. His conviction was affirmed on Friday.
The Calabar Court of Appeal affirmed the conviction of Bassey Akpan, the Young Progressives Party (YPP) governorship candidate in Akwa Ibom State, for fraud on Friday.
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On December 1, last year, Justice Agatha Okeke of the Federal High Court in Uyo sentenced the former Senator representing Akwa Ibom North-East District to 42 years in prison for fraud.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) charged Akpan with six counts of fraud for allegedly obtaining possession of six vehicles worth N204 million while serving as the state’s commissioner for finances.
According to the inquiry, he obtained one of the automobiles from Jide Omokore, an associate of a former Minister of State.
The court should affirm the lower court’s decision, dismiss the appeal, and revoke Senator Bassey’s release on the basis that the prosecution established its case beyond a reasonable doubt and the charge was properly filed.
In a decision issued today, a three-judge panel of the appellate court, led by Justice Raphael Chikwe Agbo, upheld Senator Akpan’s conviction but modified the sentence by giving the appellant the option of paying a fine.
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The court also affirmed that the appellant must return N240 million to the federal government via the EFCC, and that this restitution is not required for his release from the correctional facility
The court eventually revoked Senator Akpan’s bail and ordered his arrest.
