The Department of State Services, DSS, arrested a former presidential adviser Doyin Okupe on Thursday, January 12, 2023, based on an Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, watch-list request issued over six years ago.
The DSS arrested Dr Okupe at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, and handed him over to the EFCC.
DSS spokesperson Peter Afunanya, who confirmed the arrest, said Okupe’s interception was at the instance of the EFCC and handed over to the agency.
But the EFCC said it released Okupe soon after because the watch-list request had expired.
Wilson Uwujaren, the EFCC Head, Media and Publicity, said the Commission issued the watch-list request on July 18, 2016, over six years before Okupe’s recent conviction on money laundering charges by the Federal High Court, Abuja.
Uwujaren explained that the EFCC was about to lift the watch-list request before the DSS acted.
Uwujaren, in a statement titled ‘Interception of Doyin Okupe’ said: “The Department of State Services, DSS, today, January 12, informed the Commission of the interception of Dr Doyin Okupe, former presidential adviser, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.
“The Service acted on a Watch-list request issued on July 18, 2016, over six years before his recent conviction on money laundering charges by the Federal High Court, Abuja.
“The Commission was in the process of formally lifting the watch-list before his interception and will expedite action in this regard.”
Okupe, a former Director-General of the Labour Party (LP) Presidential Campaign Council to the EFCC, confirmed his release in a tweet.
“I was arrested & detained @ the MM int airport, Lagos this morning 12th Jan on my way to the UK for medicals, yrs after my passport was withheld by the FHC Abuja.I just left the efcc office where snr officers in lagos& Abuja apologised to me for the error. OCCUPATIONAL HAZZARD abi?” Okupe tweeted.
I was arrested & detained @ the MMIA, Lagos this morning, 12th Jan on my way to UK for medicals; years after my passport had been withheld by the FHC Abuja.
I just left the EFCC office where Snr Officers in Lagos & Abuja appologised to me for the error.OCCUPATIONAL HAZZARD abi?
— Doyin (@doyinokupe) January 12, 2023
Doyin Okupe Resigns As Labour Party Presidential Campaign DG
Doyin Okupe, the director general of the Labour Party Presidential Campaign, has resigned.
His decision is to enable him pursue his corruption case in the ourt.
He conveyed his decision in a letter to his principal, the Presidential Candidate of the party, Mr. Peter Obi.
Recall that Okupe, on Monday, December 19, 2022, was found guilty of receiving over N200 million cash from former National Security Adviser (NSA) Sambo Dasuki by Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of a Federal High Court in Abuja.
Justice Ojukwu held that the action of Okupe, who is the first defendant in the suit filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, violated the Money Laundering Act.
While stating that the Act provides that no individual or organization shall receive any sum above N5 million and N10 million respectively without passing through a financial institution, the judge held that “there is no evidence that the money passed through a financial institution”.
The court consequently held that the first defendant, Dr Okupe was guilty in counts 34, 35, 36, and 59.
Reacting to the judgement earlier through its Media Officer, Diran Onifade, the Labour Party Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), confirmed that Okupe had paid N13 million fine handed to him by the court.
He said as the party that respects the rule of law, its officials will obey court judgments promptly.
Onifade, however, said appealing the judgment is a personal decision Okupe and that the PCC cannot influence that.
Meanwhile, there have been speculations that the Labour Party may consider a replacement for Okupe as the Director-General of its 2023 Presidential Campaign Council.
A party source, on Monday, confirmed that talks were ongoing to replace Okupe.
According to report, the decision will be jointly taken by all concerned including Okupe himself.
Although the source declined to mention possible replacements, there are feelers that a former presidential aide, Akin Oshuntokun, and the serving deputy campaign manager, Isaac Balami have been tipped to replace Okupe.
Source: The Nation
