DOLLY PARTON RETURNS TO PUBLIC EYE TO CELEBRATE OPENING DAY AT DOLLYWOOD . (PHOTO).

Image
 Dolly Parton returns to public eye to celebrate opening day at Dollywood     Dolly Parton made her first public appearance in months to celebrate the opening day of Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, on Friday. The country music icon reflected on the past year, a year after the death of her husband of nearly 60 years, Carl Dean, saying she is “doing good” and has been working to rebuild herself spiritually, emotionally, and physically after grieving and dealing with health issues that kept her from touring. Joined on stage by Dollywood president Eugene Naughton, Parton brought her trademark humor to the crowd, joking about rumors of a new husband while reaffirming her devotion to Dean. She also shared updates on her ongoing projects, including a new Broadway musical and her Dolly’s Life of Many Colors Museum in Nashville. Parton previewed the park’s 41st season, highlighting the upcoming NightFlight Expedition ride, a new “Run Dollywood” race weekend, an updated ...

N240M FRAUD: COURT OF APPEAL UPHOLDS CONVICTION OF SENATOR BASSEY AKPAN, ORDERS HIS ARREST.(PHOTOS).#PRESS RELEASE.



N240m Fraud: Court of Appeal Upholds Conviction of Senator Bassey Apkan, Orders His Arrest


The Calabar Division of the Court of Appeal, on Friday, June 23, 2023 upheld the conviction of Senator Bassey Albert Akpan on money laundering charges by a Federal High Court, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State and ordered his arrest.


Justice Agatha Okeke had on December 1, 2022, found Senator Akpan, then governorship candidate of the Young Progressive Party, YPP, guilty of seven-counts of money laundering preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC and sentenced him to 42 years imprisonment, without an option of fine.


Akpan was prosecuted on allegation of receiving vehicles valued at N240 million as bribe from companies linked to one Olajide Omokore, a contractor who executed a N3Billion contract for the Government of Akwa Ibom State whilst Senator Bassey was Commissioner for Finance and Chairman of the Inter-Ministerial Direct Labour Coordinating Committee. The offence contravenes Section 15 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and is punishable under Section 15 (3) of the same Act.


However, dissatisfied with the judgment, Senator Akpan on December 29, 2022, approached a Vacation Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, presided over by Justice S. I. Mark of the Federal High Court and secured a post-conviction bail on health grounds. But upon release from prison, Senator Akpan continued with his campaign to be governor of Akwa Ibom State and subsequently approached the Appellate Court in Calabar, to set aside the judgment of Justice Okeke.


While arguing against the appeal, counsel to the EFCC, Ekele Iheanacho urged the Court to uphold the judgment of the lower court, dismiss the appeal and revoke the said bail granted to Senator Bassey on the grounds that “the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt and the charge was validly filed”.


Delivering judgment today, the three-man panel of the Appellate Court, led by Justice Raphael Chikwe Agbo, upheld the conviction of Senator Akpan but varied the sentence by granting the appellant an option of fine. 


The Court also affirmed that the appellant should restitute the sum of N240 million to the Federal Government through the EFCC and that the said restitution shall not be a prerequisite for his release from the correctional facility.


 The Court finally revoked the bail and ordered the arrest of Senator Akpan.  

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

INNOSON GIVES OUT BRAND NEW IVM G5 AND SALARY FOR LIFE TO THE MAN WHO PROPHESIED ABOUT HIS VEHICLE MANUFACTURING IN 1979.(PHOTO).

SHAKIRA COVERS WOMEN'S HEALTH MAGAZINE,APRIL ISSUE.

AMBODE,SOYINKA & OTHERS AT THE OFFICIAL LAUNCH OF LAGOS AT 50 YEARS ANNIVERSARY AGAINST 2017.{PHOTOS}.