Supreme Court Affirms 7-Year Jail Term for Senator Albert Bassey in N240m Fraud Case
The Supreme Court of Nigeria on Friday affirmed the conviction and seven-year prison sentence imposed on Senator Albert Bassey over a N240 million fraud case, and restored an earlier order directing him to refund N204 million to the Akwa Ibom State Government.
In a unanimous decision delivered on February 27, 2026, a five-member panel of the apex court, led by Justice Stephen Jonah Adah, upheld the judgment of the trial court and the Court of Appeal which found the lawmaker guilty.
The Supreme Court, however, faulted the appellate court for setting aside the restitution order earlier granted by the trial court.
It consequently reinstated the order mandating Bassey to repay N204 million.
“The order of this court is that the conviction and sentencing imposed by the lower court on the 23rd day of June 2023 on the appellant is hereby affirmed, but the order of the lower court avoiding the order of restitution given by the trial court did not follow the law. It is revised and nullified, and thereby the restitution of the sum of N204 million made by the trial court is restored,” Justice Adah held.
Bassey’s legal troubles began following his prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, 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 vehicles valued at N254 million while serving as Commissioner for Finance in Akwa Ibom State.
On December 1, 2022, the Federal High Court convicted him on all seven counts and sentenced him to seven years’ imprisonment on each count, amounting to a cumulative 42 years. The sentences were to run concurrently.
Dissatisfied with the judgment, Bassey appealed to the Court of Appeal, where a three-member panel led by Justice Raphael Chikwe Agbo upheld his conviction but introduced an option of fine.
The case subsequently proceeded to the Supreme Court, which has now affirmed the conviction and sentence, while restoring the restitution order in favour of Akwa Ibom State.
The ruling effectively brings to a close the protracted legal battle over the fraud allegations against the senator.
