Breaking: Court Sacks Senator Bassey, Declare Seat Vacant, Orders Refund Of Salaries, Fines Him 5M Over Defection To Another Party

A Federal High Court in Abuja has sacked the Senator representing Akwa-Ibom North-East Senatorial District, Bassey Albert Akpan for resigning from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), and joining the Young Progressives Party (YPP).

Justice Aminu said, “in accordance with section 65(2){b} of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, I hereby declare Senator Bassey Albert Akpan’s seat vacant.”

The court declared his seat vacant in line with the guidelines of the new electoral Act as amended 2022, and ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct bye-election within 14days to fill the vacant seat in the Senate.

In a suit No, FHC/ABJ/CS/1249/2022, Justice Aminu ruled that Senator Bassey, who was elected as Senator under the platform of the PDP, is no longer qualified to retain his seat in the Senate having resigned his membership from the PDP before the expiration of the period for which he was elected to represent the people of Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District.

The court ruling reads in parts;

“This Honourable Court hereby grants an order of injunction restraining the 1st defendant from parading himself as Senator representing Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District in the Senate.

“The 1st defendant is to pay the sum of five million naira (N5,000,000), as cost of this suit to the plaintiff.

The presiding Judge also ordered Senator Bassey to refund to the national assembly (Senate) all monies, allowances and other financial and material benefits received after his resignation from the PDP and defection to the YPP in July 2022.

The presiding Judge, Justice Fadima Murtala Aminu in his ruling ordered the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct bye-election within 14days to fill the vacant seat in the Senate.