Tuesday, 20 December 2022 06:04

Doyin Okupe escapes being taken to jail, pays N13m fine

Rate this item
(0 votes)

Doyin Okupe, director-general of the Peter Obi presidential campaign council, has paid N13 million as fine for breaching the Money Laundering Act.

Okupe was found guilty of 26 out of a 59-count charge preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Earlier on Monday, Ijeoma Ojukwu, the presiding judge of an Abuja federal high court, sentenced Okupe to two years imprisonment with the option to pay N500,000 fine on each of the counts — totalling N13 million.

There was a condition that the fine must be paid before 4:30pm on Monday.

Checks at the court on Monday evening showed that Okupe had paid the fine.

The former senior special assistant on public affairs to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan was said to have received cash from the office of the national security adviser (NSA) while Sambo Dasuki, the NSA at the time, was in office.

Ojukwu found Okupe guilty of contravening sections 16(1)&(2) of the Money Laundering Act by accepting cash payments in excess of the threshold allowed under the Act, without going through a financial institution.

The judge said the NSA is not a financial institution and although the former president allegedly authorised the funds, he did not specify a cash payment in violation of the Money Laundering Act.

“I find the first defendant, Doyin Okupe, guilty on counts 34, 35, 36, to 59,” the court ruled.

Meanwhile, speaking during an interaction with journalists in Akwa Ibom, Peter Obi, Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, said the conviction of Okupe will not affect his campaign.

“I am hearing about it (the conviction) just like you. I am still studying what is coming out of the court and everything. I believe in the rule of law. It is not going to demoralise me,” Obi said.

“Today, when I arrived Akwa Ibom,  somebody asked me why I haven’t been using my aircraft because it has been grounded and all that, and I said to him that nothing demoralises me.

“In my life, I have never stayed where they dropped me. Otherwise, I would have been where they dropped me before. This election, if they like, let them do anything about people who are around me, I will get there.”

 

The Cable

November 12, 2024

Manufacturers had unsold goods worth N1.24trn in H1 2024 - MAN

The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) says unsold goods in the manufacturing sector rose to…
November 12, 2024

Ex-Gov Aregbesola warns of imminent revolution in Nigeria amid rising misery, hunger, insecurity

Former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola has issued a stark warning about the worsening socio-economic…
November 07, 2024

3 things emotionally intelligent people always do with their smartphones

Jenny Woo Picture this common scenario: Person #1 is in the middle of sharing something…
November 09, 2024

Sick man brought to bank on hospital bed to confirm his identity

A severely sick Chinese man was pushed to a local bank branch on a hospital…
November 12, 2024

US court issues fresh arrest warrant for Air Peace CEO Allen Onyema

A United States court has reissued an order for the arrest of Allen Onyema, the…
November 12, 2024

What to know after Day 992 of Russia-Ukraine war

WESTERN PERSPECTIVE Ukraine battles to shape 'starting positions' for any war talks after Trump return…
November 11, 2024

Hackers are targeting people who type these six words into their computer, smartphones

Computer users Googling whether Bengal cats are legal to own after finding themselves victims of…
October 27, 2024

Nigeria awarded 3-0 win over Libya after airport fiasco

Nigeria have been awarded a 3-0 victory over Libya, and three vital points, from their…

NEWSSCROLL TEAM: 'Sina Kawonise: Publisher/Editor-in-Chief; Prof Wale Are Olaitan: Editorial Consultant; Femi Kawonise: Head, Production & Administration; Afolabi Ajibola: IT Manager;
Contact Us: [email protected] Tel/WhatsApp: +234 811 395 4049

Copyright © 2015 - 2024 NewsScroll. All rights reserved.