Justice A. A. Okeke of the Federal High Court sitting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, on Monday, June 17, 2019, granted an application made by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for the arrest of a serving Senator Albert Bassey popularly known as OBA, compelling him to appear in court and face the money laundering charges preferred against him by the Commission.
The serving Senator, according to his counsel, Samuel Ikpo, failed to appear in court because he was not served a copy of the charge. Ikpo also added that he was instructed by his client, to appear in court and receive the charge on his behalf.
However, the prosecution through its counsel, Mohammed Sadisu Abubakar gave detail account to the court on efforts made by the Commission to serve the lawmaker.
“My lord, since the filling of the charge, the prosecution has made frantic efforts to serve the suspect the charge but all our efforts proved abortive, as the suspect, who has been on administrative bail granted him by the EFCC has jumped bail. The Investigating Officer, Osatuyi Ayodele, also placed a call to him on June 6, 2019, inviting him to the office so as to be served the charge, but the Lawmaker failed to show up after he promised that he
“One of his (Senator Bassey) lawyers, Ini Utuk, was also contacted on June 7, 2019, he promised to provide him but equally failed. Till this moment my lord, the suspect has failed to honour the terms of his administrative bail which is to always make himself available.
“In the circumstances my lord, I humbly apply, pursuant to Section 113 and 114 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act for this honourable court to issue a warrant for the arrest of the suspect and to produce him before this honourable court”, Abubakar said.
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