Anti-corruption advocacy group, the Human and Environment Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) has commended the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for securing the conviction of Senator Albert Bassey. The body, however, called for the prosecution of Mr Bassey’s accomplice, Kids Omokore.

Mr Bassey, representing Akwa Ibom North-East senatorial district, was sentenced to a 42-year jail term after he was found guilty of looting public funds while serving as the state’s finance commissioner.

“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,” reads the letter signed by HEDA chairman, Olanrewaju Suraju on December 5.

In the one page document titled “Letter of Commendation and Request for Further Action,” Mr Suraju then asked the EFCC to initiate the prosecution process of Olajide Omokore, the senator’s accomplice, who bribed Mr Bassey with 12 exotic vehicles valued at N254 million.

“It is noteworthy that Senator Albert Bassey was accused of receiving bribes of twelve (12) exotic cars worth N254 million 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,” asserted Mr Suraju in the letter.

HEDA urged that an immediate step be taken to begin Mr Omokore’s criminal prosecution. The group further requested an update from the EFCC, “under the Freedom of Information (FoI) Act within seven days of receipt of the letter.”