N240m fraud: Okupe gets 2 years jail-term with N13m fine option

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Monday, convicted and sentenced Dr. Doyin Okupe, the Director General of the Peter Obi Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) of the Labour Party (LP), to two years imprisonment.

Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu, in a judgement, found Okupe guilty in 26 out of the 59 counts preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in the money laundering offence.

Justice Ojukwu ordered that the 26 counts, which attracted two-year jail-term each, would run concurrently.

The judge, however, gave an option of N500,000 in each of the counts, amounting to N13 million, which must be paid before 4:30p.m. (the close of work) today, Monday December 19, 2022.

Justice Ojukwu, in a judgement, held that Okupe was found guilty of contravening Sections 16(1) & (2) of the Money Laundering Act, for accepting cash payments without going through financial institution, in excess of the threshold allowed under the Act.

The offence was committed when Okupe served as Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Media to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Doyin Okupe,

Okupe was said to have received N240 million in cash from the office of the former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd).

Okupe’s wife and son, Omolola and Adesunkanmi Okupe, begged the court to tamper justice with mercy on Okupe’s sentencing.

The duo spoke as witnesses shortly after the court reconvened following the defendant’s conviction.

Besides the wife and the son that testified to Okupe’s good character and honesty before the court, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife and foremer Director General of National Orientation Agency (NOA), Dr. Idi Farouk, also gave their evidence and appealed for leniency.

The Star