Supreme Court Confirms Senator Bassey's Seven-Year Sentence

On February 27, 2026, the Supreme Court of Nigeria affirmed the conviction and seven-year imprisonment sentence of Senator Albert Bassey for financial crimes. The apex court, led by Justice Stephen Jonah Adah, reviewed an appeal against a previous ruling by the Court of Appeal, which had upheld the lower court's decision.

The trial court, on June 23, 2023, had convicted Bassey on multiple counts, including receiving bribes amounting to N254 million in the form of 12 cars. The Supreme Court also mandated Bassey to pay a restitution sum of N204 million, which the trial court had initially ordered but was ignored by the Court of Appeal.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) prosecuted Bassey, with Ekel Iheanacho SAN representing the commission. The Supreme Court's ruling nullified the previous order of the Court of Appeal, restoring the restitution requirement and confirming the lower court's sentence.