Contrary to media reports, the Appeal Court sitting in Calabar, Cross River State did not order the re-arrest of Young Progressives Party (YPP) governorship candidate in Akwa-Ibom, Senator Bassey Albert.
This is according to the certified true copy (CTC) of the judgment on Friday, reports The Nation.
A three man panel, led by Justice Raphael Agbo, instead reduced the punishment imposed on Senator Albert by giving him an option of a fine as an alternative penalty to the seven-year jail term imposed on him by the Federal High Court.
The Court of Appeal also ordered the Senator to make restitution of N240million to the Federal Government but that it shall not be a prerequisite for his release from the correctional facility. Dissatisfied with the judgement, Senator Albert’s legal team has further appealed to the Supreme Court.
(Courtesy, excluding headline, The Nation)