Civil Group Lauds EFCC Over Senator Albert Bassey Conviction, Calls for Olajide Omokore’s Prosecution

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… HEDA Request for Corruption Enabler Updates Under FOI Acts with Seven-Day Ultimatum

A front-line Civil Social Organization in Nigeria, The Human and Environment Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) working on good governance and Anti-corruption advocacy in the country, has commended the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for securing the conviction of Senator Albert Bassey and further asked for a criminal prosecution of Mr Olajide Omokore and his company linked with Albert Bassey corrupt acts.

The one-page letter titled “Letter of Commendation and Request for Further Action” written to the Executive Chairman of the Commission, Mr. Abdulrasheed Bawa, dated 5th of December, 2022, reads in part, “It delight us that after a while, the Commission has finally secured a conviction in the case against Senator Albert Bassey.

“The Senator who has been a regular feature in our Compendium of 100 High Profile Corruption Cases in Nigeria and the conviction is a big win for the fight against corruption and also a motivation to never relent in this struggle to rid Nigeria of corrupt practice.

In the letter signed by Chairman of HEDA, Mr. Olanrewaju Suraju also called the attention of EFCC to Olajide Omokore, a giver of the twelve (12) exotic cars worth N254million Naira bribe to Senator Albert Bassey; noting that there was no report of the trial or conviction of oil marketer as the enabler of the corrupt practice perpetrated by Senator Albert Bassey.

“It is noteworthy that Senator Albert Bassey was accused of receiving bribes of twelve (12) exotic cars worth N254million Naira from companies linked to an oil marketer, Olajide Omokore, a contractor who executed a N3billion contract for the government of Akwa Ibom State while Senator Albert Bassey was the Commissioner for Finance and Chairman of the Inter-Ministerial Direct Labour Coordinating Committee.

However, HEDA demands for an immediate action on a criminal prosecution of Mr Olajide Omokore and his company and possible update from the commission under the Freedom of Information (FoI) Act within seven days of receipt of the letter, if the Commission had commenced such prosecution unknown to the public.