Fraud conviction: Probe Senator Akpan’s bail, group petitions Buhari, NJC

A Civil Society Organisation known as Professionals for Integrity and Good Governance has called on the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari, (retd.), and the National Judicial Council to probe a “controversial bail” granted to Senator Bassey Akpan (Young Progressives Party, Akwa Ibom North-East) after being convicted for fraud.

A Federal High Court sitting in Uyo had on December 1, 2022, sentenced Senator Akpan to seven years imprisonment on each of the six counts preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

The Co-Convener of the CSO, Morris Alozie, at a press conference in Abuja on Monday, stated that granting Akpan bail was a ridicule on the country’s legal system.

Alozie further described the bail as a setback for the fight against corruption in the country if allowed to stay.

He alleged that although Akpan was allegedly granted bail on the basis of ill health, he has continued to engage in hectic and physically exacting political activities and sports thereby making the reason for his bail highly suspicious and questionable.

He said, “We therefore call on the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari(retd.), to cause an investigation into the circumstances leading to the removal of Senator Bassey from Ikot Ekpene Custodial Centre to a hospital in total disregard to the provisions of the law, an act that derails his fight against corruption, and bring to book the perpetrators of this dastardly act.

“Call on the National Judicial Council to cause investigation to be carried out on Hon. Justice S. I. Mark for granting bail to Senator Bassey on legally untenable and suspicious grounds.

“Call on the Attorney General of the Federation and the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to commence in earnest the process of appealing against the decision releasing Senator Bassey forthwith in accordance with the avowed stance of the present government against corruption.

“Since Senator Bassey is fit to play golf, he is also fit to remain in prison, a more relaxing and resting place, for an egregious crime of money laundering he committed.”

The group further posited that allowing Senator Bassey to work scot-free puts our legal system in bad light and gives an impression that there is no consequence for bad behaviour especially after the court has found the person guilty.

Alozie added that after the conviction, Akpan was taken to the Ikot Ekpene Custodial Centre, to serve his prison term.

He stated, “The development was lauded by fair-minded individuals in the society as it marked a quantum leap in the fight against corruption.

“Disturbingly, after the conviction, Senator Bassey only spent few days at a Custodial Centre as he was moved to hospital by prison officials in controversial circumstances and in total disregard of the conditions set in section 25(1) of the Nigerian Correctional Service Act, 2022, which requires that before an inmate is removed to a hospital, such an inmate must be seriously ill, a medical officer of the centre must certify to the ill-health, and there is no suitable accommodation at the centre.

“Senator Bassey was not seriously ill, the Centre’s medical Officer did not certify his purported ill-health and Ikot Ekpene Custodial Centre, which is regarded as one of the best prison facilities in West Africa, has a suitable accommodation.”

The CSO convener further stated that the ruling that ensured the senator releases was an obvious case of abuse of judiciary power.

He said, “Furthermore, the senator rushed to the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt Judicial Division, even though he was convicted at the Uyo Division and sought for bail on the excuse that he has been battling with longstanding ailments (hypertension and diabetes) for 14 years.

“Questionably, the court presided by Hon. Justice S. I. Mark granted Senator Bassey bail contrary to judicial decisions of superior courts against granting of bail in such circumstance(s).

“The rapidity and swiftness at which the court granted the bail application is alarming and suspicious. It took a span of eight working days for the application to be filed, served on parties, argued, heard and determined by the court.