Federal government files fresh charges against Akwa Ibom's Senator Akpan over asset declaration

SENATOR Bassey Akpan the member of the National Assembly representing Akwa Ibom North East Senatorial District is facing the prospect of a custodial jail sentence after the federal government filed fresh criminal charges against him.

In what has been an ongoing saga, Senator Akpan has been accused of failing to declare his assets and the legal battle took a fresh turn yesterday when the government filed fresh charges in court. At the Federal High Court, Abuja yesterday, the government filed a two-count charge of criminal breach of trust, diversion of public funds, conspiracy and abuse of office against the senator.

According to government lawyers, the offence was punishable under Section 15 of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act. In court, the charge sheet was signed by Celsus Ukpong, the chief superintendent of the Special Presidential Investigation Panel on behalf of the attorney-general of the federation and backed by the proof of evidence and statement of Senator Akpan.

In his statement, attached to the charge sheet, Senator Akpan said that he could not remember how much he bought his property in the Diplomatic Zone at Katampe Extension in Abuja and who he bought it from. He also denied ownership of two other houses said to be his, all located around the Diplomatic Zone.

The two-count charge read: “That you, Senator Albert Akpan on or about 12th day of April, within the jurisdiction of this court committed an offence to wit: refusal to declare your assets without reasonable excuse. And upon notice to declare your assets before the Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property, Abuja contrary to and punishable under Section 3(3)(1)(a) of the Recovery of Public Property (Special Provision)Act 2004.

“That you, Sen. Albert Akpan on or about 12th day of April, within the jurisdiction of this court committed an offence to wit: neglect to declare your assets without reasonable excuse. And upon notice to declare your assets before the Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property, Abuja contrary to and punishable under Section 3(3)(1)(a) of the Recovery of Public Property (Special Provision) Act 2004.”

Last month, Senator Akpan was arrested and taken away into the custody by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over his alleged receipt of vehicles worth N303m from an oil baron, now standing trial. In response, the senator has filed a suit against the EFCC for breach of his fundamental human rights and personal rights.

In addition, the federal government has written to the government of the UK requesting it ban Senator Akpan, from entering the country and any of its territories. Based on his actions while he was Akwa Ibom State finance commissioner between 2007 and 2014, the letter claimed that the findings of the Special Presidential Investigative Panel for the Recovery of Public Property, discovered that Senator Akpan acquired numerous properties scattered within and outside Nigeria through dubious means while in office.