“As a commissioner, I reported to my governor. So, if anybody is to be charged to court, it should be the governor to whom I reported," Bassey stated.
Bassey Albert, the Senator representing the Akwa Ibom North-East District at the National Asssembly, has alleged that the charges against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is a ploy to force him to defect from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The EFCC had filed a 14-count charge, accusing Bassey of receiving 12 cars worth N254m between 2010 and 2014, while serving as the Finance Commissioner during the administration of Godswill Akpabio, as bribes from one Olajide Omokore.
Speaking on the charges, which were filed on Monday, Bassey, while addressing a media event, said Akpabio should be held accountable for whatever happened.
He said: “As a commissioner, I reported to my governor. So, if anybody is to be charged to court, it should be the governor to whom I reported.”
Alleging that the move is to force him to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), he insisted that he would stay put to the Peoples Democratic Party, stating that "Whatever case you are seeing is orchestrated by someone in this state to coerce me into the APC. You can’t tell me if I jump over to APC, all charges will be dropped".