– The EFCC has arraigned Albert Bassey, the senator representing Akwa Ibom northeast to court for alleged money laundering

– The senator is facing a six-count charge which also include the possession of six vehicles worth over N204 million

– Senator Bassey, however pleaded not guilty to the charge as he was give a N20 million bail

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has charged to court Albert Bassey, the senator representing Akwa Ibom north-east for alleged money laundering.

EFCC arraigned the senator on a six-count charge which included the alleged possession of six vehicles worth over N204 million when he was still the finance commissioner in the state, The Cable reports.

He was reported to have collected one of those vehicles from Jide Omokore, who is an associate of Diezani Alison Madueke, the former mister of petroleum.

It was said that Omoko gave the vehicles to Bassey when the senator has dealings with the state.

Some parts of the charges read: “That you, Albert Bassey, whilst being the Commissioner for Finance, Akwa Ibom State and Chairman of Akwa Ibom State Inter-Ministerial Direct Labour Coordinating Committee, IMDLCC sometime in December 2012, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, indirectly took possession of a vehicle (Infinity QX 56 BP) valued at N45,000,000.00 at the instance of one Olajide Jones Omokore (whose companies had contracts with Akwa Ibom State Government at that material time), when you reasonably ought to have known that the said vehicle formed part of proceed of unlawful activity (to wit: corruption) and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 15 (3) of the same Act.”

Bassey, however, on Moday, June 24 pleaded not guilty to the counts when he heard them in the court.

Following the pleas, the counsel to the anti-graft agency, Mohammed Abubakar, asked the court to give it more time to prove the case against the senator.

The counsel to the defendant, Solomon Umoh, prayed the court to approve bail for his client, which the sitting judge, A A Okeke granted the bail in the sum of N20 million.

The case was therefore postponed till Tuesday, July 2 and Wednesday, July 3.