The Supreme Court of Nigeria has affirmed the conviction and seven-year prison sentence handed to Senator Albert Bassey over fraud involving hundreds of millions of naira, while restoring an order requiring him to refund N204 million to Akwa Ibom State.
In a unanimous decision delivered on Friday, February 27, 2026, a five-member panel of the apex court upheld the earlier judgments of the trial court and the Court of Appeal, dismissing Bassey’s appeal.
Delivering the lead judgment, Justice Stephen Jonah Adah ruled that the conviction and sentence imposed by the lower court on June 23, 2023, remain valid.
“The order of this court is that the conviction and sentencing imposed by the lower court on the 23 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, so it is revised and the right order is to nullify same and thereby the restitution of sum of N204 million made by the trial court is restored,” Justice Adah stated.
EFCC Prosecution and Initial Conviction
Bassey’s legal troubles began following his prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before the Federal High Court in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
Led by prosecution counsel Ekele Iheanacho, SAN, the EFCC charged him before Justice Agatha Okeke on a seven-count charge bordering on corruption and the receipt of bribes, including 12 vehicles valued at N254 million during his tenure as Commissioner for Finance in Akwa Ibom State.
On December 1, 2022, the trial court convicted Bassey on all seven counts and sentenced him to seven years’ imprisonment on each count — amounting to a cumulative 42 years, though to run concurrently.
Appeal and Final Verdict
Bassey subsequently appealed the judgment at the Court of Appeal, where a three-member panel led by Justice Raphael Chikwe Agbo upheld the conviction but introduced an option of fine.
However, dissatisfied with aspects of the appellate ruling, the matter proceeded to the Supreme Court.
In its final determination, the apex court affirmed the conviction and sentence but faulted the appellate court for setting aside the restitution order earlier granted by the trial court.
By restoring the order of restitution, the Supreme Court directed that Bassey must refund N204 million to Akwa Ibom State, bringing the protracted legal battle to a close.
