Supreme Court Affirms Seven-Year Jail Term, Restores ₦204m Restitution Against Senator Bassey
Supreme Court Affirms Seven-Year Jail Term, Restores ₦204m Restitution Against Senator Bassey
Supreme Court Affirms Seven-Year Jail Term, Restores ₦204m Restitution Against Senator Bassey
The Supreme Court of Nigeria on Friday, February 27, 2026, affirmed the conviction and seven-year prison sentence of former senator Albert Bassey, while restoring the order for him to refund ₦204 million to Akwa Ibom State.
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The judgment was delivered by a five-man panel of the apex court, led by Justice Stephen Jonah Adah, after reviewing Bassey’s appeal. The court upheld the decisions of both the trial court and the Court of Appeal on the conviction and sentence but faulted the appellate court for setting aside the restitution order made by the trial court.
Justice Adah ruled that while the conviction and sentence imposed on June 23, 2023, were rightly affirmed, the Court of Appeal erred by ignoring the restitution order. He therefore nullified that aspect of the appellate court’s judgment and restored the trial court’s directive that Bassey refund ₦204 million to the state.
Bassey’s legal troubles began following his prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), led by prosecution counsel Ekele Iheanacho, SAN, before Justice Agatha Okeke of the Federal High Court in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
He was charged with receiving bribes in the form of 12 luxury vehicles valued at ₦254 million while serving as Commissioner for Finance in Akwa Ibom State. On Thursday, December 1, 2022, the trial court convicted him on all seven counts and sentenced him to seven years’ imprisonment on each count.
Bassey subsequently appealed the judgment, and while the Court of Appeal upheld his conviction, aspects of its ruling were later reviewed by the Supreme Court, culminating in Friday’s decision.
The apex court’s judgment brings finality to the case, reinforcing accountability and restoring the financial restitution owed to Akwa Ibom State.
Supreme Court Affirms Seven-Year Jail Term, Restores ₦204m Restitution Against Senator Bassey
