Bassey Albert, the Young Progressives Party’s (YPP) candidate for governor, has been found guilty of corruption and given a 42-year prison term.
Mr. Albert, who had been accused of financial crimes by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, was found guilty and given a sentence on Thursday by Justice Agatha Anulika Okeke of the Federal High Court, sitting in Uyo.
To fulfill his prison sentence, he has been transported to the Ikot Ekpene prisons in Akwa Ibom State.
Mr Albert, a serving senator representing Akwa Ibom North East District, was accused of receiving bribes of 12 cars worth N254 million from an oil marketer, Olajidee Omokore, during his (Albert’s) tenure (2010 – 2014) as commissioner for finance in Akwa Ibom State.
The convicted senator was a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, the ruling party in the state, before he defected months ago to the YPP, where he secured the party’s ticket for the 2023 governorship election.
He was a major challenger to the PDP candidate, Umo Eno, in next year’s governorship election in Akwa Ibom State.
