Supreme Court Upholds Senator Bassey’s Conviction, Restores ₦204m Restitution to Akwa Ibom
On Friday, February 27, 2026, the Supreme Court of Nigeria affirmed the conviction and seven-year prison sentence imposed on Senator Albert Bassey, alongside an order for restitution of ₦204 million to Akwa Ibom State.
Delivering judgment on the appeal, Justice Stephen Jonah Adah, speaking for the five-man panel of the apex court, upheld the decision of the Court of Appeal but restored the restitution order earlier granted by the trial court and wrongly set aside by the appellate court.
According to the ruling: “The conviction and sentencing imposed by the lower court on June 23, 2023, is hereby affirmed. However, the Court of Appeal erred in avoiding the restitution order made by the trial court. That order is therefore restored, and the restitution of ₦204 million stands.”
Senator Bassey’s conviction arose from his prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before Justice Agatha Okeke of the Federal High Court, Uyo. He was found guilty of receiving bribes in the form of 12 cars valued at ₦254 million during his tenure as Commissioner for Finance in Akwa Ibom State.
The trial court convicted him on all seven counts, sentencing him to seven years’ imprisonment on each count (totaling 42 years) on December 1, 2022. His appeal to the Court of Appeal was dismissed, though the appellate court had introduced an option of fine. The Supreme Court has now struck out that modification, affirming the conviction and restoring the restitution order.
