Former senior special assistant to erstwhile President Goodluck Jonathan on public affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, on Sunday May 8, 2016, agreed that he took funds from the embattled former national security adviser, Sambo Dasuki but not part of the $2.1 billion #DasukiGate.
He said the funds he took were for the administration of his office as an officer of the government of the Nigeria, but washed his hands off the scandalous $2.1 billion arms fund which is being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Okupe’s name is being mentioned as a beneficiary of the $2.1 billion arms scandal deal but on Sunday, May 8, 2016 the former presidential adviser took to Twitter, denying involvement in the allegedly misappropriated funds.
The misappropriated arms funds which have been tagged, #DasukiGate has affected a wide range of political office holders in the former administration where Okupe held significant position. The scandalous deal has affected senior political office holders, contractors and even military officers in the previous administration.
In his twitter handle, Okupe denied receiving #Dasukigate money.
I was not paid arms deal money.NSA paid 4 running of my office monthly from Aug 2012.Dasuki gate was in 2014.I Did not take part in campaign
— Doyin (@doyinokupe) May 6, 2016
Okupe, who also denied being part of the 2015 electioneering campaign, added that the president is empowered by the constitution to run his office as he deems fit, adding that the NSA is a staff of the president and is subject to the president.
He said “I kept up with my duties as a principal aide of the president and continued media engagement and interface where necessary. I received no special funds for any program or project connected with electioneering.”
