Albert Bassey, senator representing Akwa Ibom North East at the National Assembly was, on Thursday, convicted and sentenced to 42 years imprisonment by Justice Agatha Okeke of the Federal High, Uyo, Akwa Ibom state.
The court found him guilty of six-count of money laundering preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
Senator Bassey was prosecuted by the anti-graft agency on allegation of receiving vehicle valued at N204 million as bribe from companies linked to one Olajide Omokore, a contractor who executed a N3billion contract for the Government of Akwa Ibom State whilst Senator Bassey was Commissioner for finance and Chairman of the Inter-Ministerial Direct Labour Coordinating Committee
The offence contravenes Section 15 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and is punishable under Section 15 (3) of the same Act.
One of the charges against the senator reads, “That you, Albert Bassey, whilst being the Commissioner for Finance, Akwa Ibom State and Chairman of Akwa Ibom State Inter-Ministerial Direct Labour Coordinating Committee, IMDLCC sometime in December 2012, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, indirectly took possession of a vehicle (Infinity QX 56 BP) valued at N45,000,000.00 at the instance of one Olajide Jones Omokore (whose companies had contracts with Akwa Ibom State Government at that material time), when you reasonably ought to have known that the said vehicle formed part of proceed of unlawful activity (to wit: corruption) and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 15 (3) of the same Act”.
Upon arraignment, the senator pleaded not guilty to the charges setting the stage for his full trial. In the course of trial, EFCC called several witnesses and tendered documents that were admitted in evidence as exhibits.
One of the witnesses, Ngunan Kakwagh, an investigator with the EFCC, revealed how Olajide Omokore, a contractor, bought vehicles for Senator Albert after receiving N3bn contracts when he was Commissioner for Finance in Akwa Ibom State.
Kakwagh, informed the court that the anti-graft agency traced about N3bn payments from the Akwa Ibom State Government and the Inter-Ministerial Direct Labour Coordinating Committee, to the accounts of Canwod Dredging Company Limited, Bay Atlantic Limited, Sahel Engineering, Power Nigeria Limited and Network Services Nigeria Limited – all linked to Omokore.
“My team further traced money from Omokore’s company account to the account of Skymit Limited, and when we invited Skymit to tell us the reasons for the money, we were told that it was for the purchase of vehicles.
“So, my investigation revealed that the accused, while he was the Commissioner for Finance and Chairman of the Inter-Ministerial Direct Labour Coordinating Committee, Omokore and his companies received monies from the Akwa Ibom State Government and the IMDLCC.
“Also, Omokore bought cars from Skymit Limited for the accused”, the witness added.
The vehicles include 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 4×4, valued at N36million.
The court on May 5, 2022 closed the case of the defence following the failure of the lead defence counsel, Kanu Agabi to continue the trial of the serving senator.
Delivering judgement, Justice Okeke held that the court was satisfied that the prosecution had proved the case against the defendant beyond reasonable doubt and convicted him as charged.
PRESS RELEASE
‘MY RE-ELECTION BID BASED ON ACHIEVEMENTS’, SANWO-OLU DECLARES AS GOVERNOR UNVEILS CAMPAIGN BRAND
- Lagosians propagate ’Greater Lagos Rising’ in roadshows, boat concerts
A multi-dimensional roadshow, comprising power bikers, activation rigs and mobile advertising vans, was spotted across cities in Lagos State on Wednesday with flashes of an appealing slogan: “A Greater Lagos Rising”. The overall activities formally flagged off the re-election campaign of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
In riverine communities, hundreds of residents rolled out branded canoes in a special sea show, traversing the Lagos waterways to kick off the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship electioneering.
The events culminated into a press briefing held in Ikeja, where Gov. Sanwo-Olu and Director General of the APC Governorship Campaign Council, Sen. Ganiyu Solomon, unveiled the campaign assets, including theme, colour and font branding.
Represented by Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, the Governor declared: “I am running on records; get ready for more.”
Sanwo-Olu said the theme of his second term campaign reinforced continuity of his achievements in first term. He said the idea of “Greater Lagos Rising” captured the passion and resilience of young creative citizens toiling to change the story of the State in music, movies, fashion, sports, manufacturing and technological innovations.
The Governor said renewal of his mandate would further strengthen his administration’s resolve to scale up efficiency of his development blueprint, known as THEMES Agenda, and unlock more socio-economic opportunities for hardworking residents.
He said: “Our campaign assets capture the audacity and spirit of Lagos in the rising of the city. The campaign assets are not some forms of self-adulation but fitting credit to the contributions of hardworking Lagosians, especially the youth, to the height Lagos has attained today. This campaign is not about me and my team alone. It is a tribute to all our youths who are doing amazing works to put Lagos on the global map. Renewing our mandate will represent people’s confidence in the collective progress we have made in the last three and half years against all odds.
“There is no doubt we are running on records. Evidence of our achievements abounds to discerning minds. Lagos is on the threshold of history as the first sub-national to deliver on a mass rail system; the Blue Rail Line is being test run ahead of commissioning and operations in the coming weeks. The Red Line is also scheduled for commissioning in the first quarter of 2023. We have completed and inaugurated 16 housing schemes within this first term. Our people are confident that we can do a lot more after they witnessed the commissioning 62 fire-fighting vehicles in a day to keep our citizens safe.
“This administration, within three years, upgraded two tertiary institutions to degree-awarding schools to raise human capital and prepare our young people for future jobs. Our Government trained 18,000 teachers under the Eko Excel Initiative. People who benefited from Ilera Eko Health Insurance scheme now see the proof that something is changing in the State. Honest residents know that Imota Rice Mill and the Lekki Deep Sea Port are incontrovertible proofs that a greater Lagos is indeed rising and unfolding before their eyes. Now, imagine what we can do with additional four years.”
The Governor explained the essence of yellow as dominant colour in the campaign materials, noting that the shade symbolised the energy, youthfulness, enthusiasm, optimism and happiness which are common expressions among Lagos residents.
The brand colour also came with a mix of foggy, signifying warmth, transformation, freedom and fun said to be hallmarks of the State.
All the colours used, Sanwo-Olu said, collectively evoked the resilience of the State to remain on the path of progress, despite being hit by global COVID-19 pandemic and the violence resulting from ENDSARS protests.
He said: “Our campaign will be reinforcing the energy, remarkable audacity and unbroken resilience of our people. Rising is a proof of growth. Our actions in the last three and half years have blended into our Greater Lagos mantra, with the State rising and transforming before our very eyes.
“When we say a ‘Greater Lagos is Rising’, we are drawing attention of our citizens to the positive changes taking place all over the State, including growth of our economy, breath-taking rebuilding of Lagos and the renewal of hope in citizens. Let us write a new history.”
Solomon said the party would be rolling out campaign materials to all nooks and crannies of the State to showcase the achievements of the Sanwo-Olu administration, urging residents of Lagos to support the effort to renew the Governor’s mandate.
Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Sam Egube, said Sanwo-Olu’s re-election bid was proper. He noted that Lagos rose in its challenging period, saying: “Mr. Governor never allowed those challenges to bring Lagos on its knees.”
Egube said the simultaneous development of two rail lines, building of a deep seaport and delivery of international standard bus stations were evidence that Greater Lagos had started to rise.
SIGNED
GBOYEGA AKOSILE
CHIEF PRESS SECRETARY
30 NOVEMBER 2022
Yoruba World Centre to support FG on new education policy
The International Centre for Yoruba Arts and Culture (Yoruba World Centre) has pledged to support the Federal Government on its new education policy.
The Centre stated this in a letter of congratulations written to the Minister of Eduction, Alhaji Adamu Adamu.
In the letter, personally signed by the Coordinator, Ogbeni Alao Adedayo, the YWC said it upheld the scaling through of this proposal as one big achievement that would be recorded for the tenure of the current Minister, pleading that all should come together to see to the workability of the policy.
On Wednesday, the Federal Executive Council, at its meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja, approved a new Language Policy which now makes mother tongue a compulsory medium of instruction from Primary classes 1 to 6. The Yoruba World Centre, in its first reaction to this, maintained that, “This is time for us to celebrate, because Nigeria now follows the ways of many developed nations.
“Using mother tongue for instructions at the early stage of the children has helped many nations of the world to develop, and it is one of the obstacles facing our education sector in Nigeria as pupils taught with foreign languages grow to fall in love with foreign cultures and ideas, abandoning anything indigenous, including the love for their own community and country.
“Here at the Yoruba World Centre, we are very sure the Federal Government and Nigerians shall reap bountifully from this new policy. This is why we are supporting the policy with all our resources, by bringing all stakeholders together to ensure we all give a helping hand that will facilitate an all-round success for the implementation of the policy.”
PRESIDENT BUHARI FLAYS CORRUPTION IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT SYSTEM, PROMISES TO ACT ON NIPSS REPORT ON STRENGTHENING LOCAL GOVERNANCE
President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday in Abuja flayed the tendency of some chief executives to encourage corruption at the local government system, thereby inhibiting development at the grassroots.
The President spoke at a parley with members of the Senior Executive Course (SEC) No. 44 (2022) of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru.
He narrated his personal experience on stemming the tide of corruption in the local government system after the presentation of the report of NIPSS SEC 44.
After listening to comments on the Course 44 presentation, themed ‘‘Strengthening Local Governance in Nigeria: Challenges, Options and Opportunities”, by some members of the Federal Executive Council, who aired their personal views on enhancing the autonomy of local governments, the President narrated his own experience on the treatment of local governments by some State governments.
‘‘I found it necessary to digress after reading my speech and this digression is as a result of my personal experience.
‘‘What they did, this is my personal experience, if the money from the Federation Account to the State is about N100 million, N50 million will be sent to the Chairman but he will sign that he received N100 million. The Governor will pocket the balance and share it with whoever he wants to share it with.
‘‘And then the Chairman of the local government must see how much he must pay in salaries and to hell with development. When he pays the salaries of the bigman, the balance he will put in his pocket.
‘‘This is what’s happening. This is Nigeria. It’s a terrible thing; you cannot say the person who was doing this is not educated.’’
President Buhari urged public office holders to be guided by their conscience and personal integrity wherever they find themselves.
He pledged that the recommendations contained in the presentation of SEC 44 will be painstakingly studied by the Government with the view to implementing its recommendations.
Declaring that his administration has done so much in building trust between the government and the people, the President noted that the report would largely assist in the provision of good governance to the people at the grassroots levels and by extension win back their trust in government.
‘‘It is obvious that government cannot afford to pay lip-service to the recommendations contained in this report.
‘‘I assure you that the Report will be treated with the seriousness and urgency it deserves. Government will study the report with the view to implementing the carefully detailed recommendations,’’ he said.
Commending the quality of the report, the commitment and dedication that went into it, President Buhari said the National Institute can always be trusted to deliver on very critical and sensitive assignments of national importance.
He expressed delight that the Institute has been exceptional in handling several assignments, and the current submission is a commendable improvement on the existing standards.
‘‘The quality of the presentation, and the confidence with which they were made, strongly attests to the quality of training the participants received during the course. I congratulate you for justifying the confidence and trust reposed in each and every one of you by your respective nominations.
‘‘I am also happy with the level of knowledge and discipline you have all openly demonstrated. I have been briefed of the rigorous training process you all underwent at Kuru. Your graduation therefore is well deserved,’’ the President told the 89 participants of Senior Executive Course 44.
He added that he was convinced that they are all now well equipped for the strategic tasks, increased responsibilities, and positions of authority of trust.
‘‘I challenge you to go back to your various establishments, units, posts, beats, departments, directorates, Ministries, Parastatals, commissions, commands, agencies to revitalize, reinvigorate, reform and rejig your various platforms and spheres of influence, responsibility and leadership,’’ he said.
After listening to some demands by the leadership of NIPSS, President Buhari promised to look into some of the challenges facing the Institute, adding that no government establishment exists without challenges.
He assured them that his administration is poised to complete the review and passage of the NIPSS establishment act and condition of service before handover in May 2023.
To this extent, the President directed the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Office of the Head of Service of the Federation to take all necessary steps to its actualization.
In his remarks, the Director-General of NIPSS, Prof Ayo Omotayo, said the Course participants undertook study tours of 14 States of the Federation, six African countries and six countries outside Africa.
‘‘This enabled them to have both local and international perspectives on local governance, how to overcome challenges in achieving it, identify the available opportunities to strengthen it and develop workable options to be considered by government in strengthening local governance,’’ he said.
Garba Shehu
Senior Special Assistant to the President
(Media & Publicity)
December 1, 2022
