The Chairman of the Young Progressives Party (YPP) governorship campaign in Akwa Ibom, Mr. Emem Akpabio, has described the jailing of Senator Bassey Albert Akpan as the ‘‘travesty of justice.’’
Akpan popularly known as OBA representing Akwa Ibom North East Senatorial District in the National Assembly was sentenced by Federal High Court, Uyo to 42 years for fraud.
In 2019, he was prosecuted by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for receiving a bribe of six cars worth N204 million from an oil marketer, Olajide Omokore, while he was serving as commissioner for finance in Akwa Ibom State from 2010 to 2014.
Also read: Sen OBA Begins 42-year imprisonment at Ikot Ekpene Correctional Centre
Reacting, Akpabio, described the court judgment as “judicial absurdity” and “travesty of justice.”
The Knight of Methodist Church Nigeria, who stated this in a statement hours after Mr Albert’s conviction was taken to prison, said they would appeal the judgment.
He called on the party supporters to remain calm.
Mr Akpabio said the YPP campaign condemns and rejects the conviction and jailing of Mr Albert, saying “his innocence was glaringly obvious from day one that the EFCC instituted the case.”
“The dust it (the judgment) has stirred against the judiciary would only be redeemable by a reversal,” Mr Akpabio added.
He said the development was a temporary setback designed to test their faith and propel the YPP to the height of freedom.
The Chairman cited the Biblical figure, Joseph, who came from prison to become the prime minister of Egypt.
He also cited Nelson Mandela, who came from prison to become South African president.
“The mission to redeem Akwa Ibom State from the decadent administration of Governor Udom Emmanuel remains unstoppable.
“In this regard, we make bold to declare publicly that Mr Albert remains the arrowhead of this movement, and we collectively and individually stand by him and remain irrevocably committed to this genuine cause.
“Akwa Ibom State must be free and freed from underdevelopment, want and lack being inflicted on the people,” Mr Akpabio said.
Obono Obla’s reaction
A former Personal Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Prosecution Chief Okoi Obono-Obla has reacted to the sentencing of Obong Bassey Albert, the governorship candidate of YPP in Akwa Ibom State by a Federal High Court Uyo to 42 years imprisonment.
He has proclaimed that God has vindicated him.
As chairman of Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property, Obono-Obla handled several big-time corruption cases in the country.
He said, “The Almighty God keeps on vindicating the good work I did as Chairman of the SPIPRPP.
“I did my work courageously, diligently, and with a high sense of probity which ordinarily would have won me a commendation.
“Rather I was framed, victimized, maligned, persecuted, and prosecuted.
“Today, the Federal High Court Uyo, Akwa Ibom State sentenced to 42 years imprisonment, Senator Albert Akpan for corruption.”
Obono-Obla explained that Albert was investigated and prosecuted by his panel for the acquisition of assets worth hundreds of millions of pounds in the United Kingdom and Nigeria which he failed to disclose in his assets declaration form.
According to him, Albert was one of the senators that used a kangaroo panel constituted by the House of Representatives to get back at him for daring to investigate some powerful senators in 2018.
Obono-Obla stated that another of such senators which his panel had also investigated is languishing in a prison in the United Kingdom.
