Money Laundery: Okupe Bags 2Years Jail Term With N13m Option Of Fine

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Monday convicted and sentenced former Special Assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan, Dr. Doyin Okupe, to two years imprisonment for money laundery.

Presiding judge of the Court, Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu found Dr. Okupe, who is presently the Director General of the Peter Obi Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) of the Labour Party (LP), guilty in 26 out of the 59 counts money laundery preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Justice Ojukwu Justice convicted Okupe for breaching the Money Laundering Act and ruled 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 4:30pm today being Monday, December 19, 2022.

In the judgement, Justice Ojukwu, 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 according to the EFCC, was committed when Okupe served as Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Media to former President Jonathan during which he received N240 million in cash from the office of the former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd).

The Wife and son of Dr Doyin Okupe, who spoke as witnesses shortly after the court reconvened following Okupe’s conviction pleaded with the Court to temper justice with mercy in sentencing him, saying that Okupe is a man of good character and honesty.

In the same vein, Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife and former Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Dr Idi Farouk, testified that Okupe is of good conduct and appealed for leniency.

The judge had stood down proceedings for Okupe to exercise his right under Section 310 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) to call witnesses to testify about his character, before it could proceed to pronounce sentence on him.

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