Justice Agatha Okeke of a Federal High Court sitting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State has adjourned the trial of a serving Senator, Albert Bassey, to April 6, 2020, for continuation of hearing.

Senator Bassey, popularly known as OBA is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on a six-count charge bordering on money laundering.

When the matter came up on Monday February 17, 2020, the prosecution Counsel, M. S. Abubakar informed the court about the prosecution's readiness to proceed with the trial by calling its first wtness who was present in court.

But the defence counsel, Solomon Umoh, SAN,  drew the attention of the court to an earlier application made by the defence on November 13, 2019. "The application touches on your lordship's competence in entertaining this case and the prosecution filed a counter affidavit to that application on February 13, 2020. We were served this counter on February 14, that's Friday, so we need to do a short reply as there are some issues raised. My Lord, I thought I should bring it to your lordship's reckoning", Umoh said.

Responding, Abubakar argued that the matter was slated for trial and urged the court to allow the trial to go on.  

After listening to both parties, Justice Okeke ruled that it will be in the interest of all parties to hear the said motion. The case was then adjourned to April 6, 2020.

Senator Bassey is being prosecuted by the EFCC for allegedly taking possession of six vehicles worth N204million, at the instance of one Olajide Omokore, whose companies had contracts with Akwa Ibom State Government, at the time.

Investigations revealed that the said vehicles were proceeds of crime and that he committed the offence while he doubled as the Commissioner for Finance, Akwa Ibom State and Chairman of Akwa Ibom State Inter-Ministerial Direct Labour Coordinating Committee, in December 2012. It is an offence which contravenes Section 15 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 15 (3) of the same Act.

The vehicles are, Infinity QX 56 BP, valued at N45million; Toyota Land Cruiser V8 BP, valued at N40million; Range Rover, valued at N40million; Toyota Hiace, High Roof, valued at N27million; Toyota Hiace High Roof, valued at N16million and Toyota Hilux 4x4, valued at N36million.

    
Media & Publicity
February 17, 2020