A’Ibom: Senator Albert Won’t Go Down Alone, Akpabio Must Be Jailed- Chief of Staff

The last on the 42 years imprisonment of Senator Bassey Albert Akpan popularly called Oba who was last week convicted by the federal high court Uyo over a case of corruption bribery and money laundering may not be heard as his Chief of Staff Mr Daniel Udo has come up with startling revelation on the embattled senator’s predicament.

In a television show monitored by our Correspondent recently in Uyo, Mr Daniel Udo popularly called North South ventures explained that there is no transaction carried out by his Boss as Commissioner for finance under Chief Godswilll Akpabio’s government without his approval and full consent.

Throwing more light Mr Daniel Udo highlighted that there is no way a Commissioner in the employ of the Akwa Ibom state government will award a contract to the sum of #3 billion without getting a written approval.

He further enthused, ” Even the said vehicles received by the senator from Mr Jide Omokaro who is at the center of the storm were done with the knowledge and support of the former governor because he and his then finance Commissioner were very close and did alot together”.

The Chief of Staff further highlighted that the embattled senator’s latest predicament became sour when in 2018, he refused to join his former Boss to All Progressives Congress (APC) an action the latter saw as a betrayal and vowed to deal with him decisively.

Mr Udo said the former governor a maverick politician has kept faith with his earlier threat to deal with senator Bassey Albert Akpan by using his connection in the ruling APC to get the EFCC to do his biddings.

” Oba will not go down alone , his former Boss should come and explain all he knows about the transactions and what he benefited from it. A Commissioner can’t award a #3billion contract and the funds leave the coffers of the state Treasury without the governor’s approval. This is a big set up and conspiracy against Oba”

Reacting to the lastest development a human rights lawyer Barr. Iniebeghe Effiong said in his social media handle that Senator Bassey Albert will appeal his conviction, and file motion for bail pending appeal (which may or may not be granted).

According to him, “This judgment will not bar him from contesting the election because INEC on its own does not have the constitutional power to disqualify candidates.

He further explained “If he wins, the election tribunal will nullify his election. No matter the outcome of his appeal, his conviction for corruption will affect his electoral fortunes and acceptability. The case will likely traverse all the way to the Supreme Court. For now, he remains in prison”.

The lawyer expressed doubt on the possibility of the case to be finally determined before the 2023 gubernatorial election in Akwa Ibom. “There’s more to be said, but I’ll stop here for now” he opined.

Meanwhile a renowned socio-political group operating under the aegis of Liberated People for Transparency and Good Governance has tackled the Akwa ubok Abasi campaign organization, a group working for Senator Bassey Akpan’s 2023 governorship in Akwa ibom state describing their latest position on their principal incarceration as misguided and unpatriotic.

The group in a press conference addressed recently in uyo Akwa ibom state through its President Comrade Enefiok Umoh and Secretary Edet Afia keke made it clear that the law of the land is supreme and no man no matter his position in the society is bigger than the law.

According to the group,” it’s sad that those loyal to the embattled senator who has been in the case since 2014 are pointing accusing fingers at the state Governor Udom Emmanuel, giving it a political coloration and branding it a politically sponsored travail using interpersonal deceptive theory to whip sentiment and mislead members of the public, the truth of the matter should be restated”.

“The theory so adopted by OBA’S men involves the use of intentional deception which requires greater cognitive exertion than truthful communication, especially when the sender of the message attempts falsification (lying), concealment (omitting material facts) or equivocation (skirting issues by changing the subject or responding indirectly).