Money laundering: Doyin Okupe pays N13m, escapes two-year jail
On Monday, Dr. Doyin Okupe, a former Senior Special Assistant to former President Goodluck Jonathan, was found guilty of receiving more than N200 million in cash from Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd), a former National Security Advisor.
As a result, on each of the 26 counts for which he was found guilty, Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of a Federal High Court in Abuja sentenced him to two years in prison with the option of a N500, 000 fine.
Read Also: BREAKING: Doyin Okupe bags two and half year Jail Term
In presiding over the case brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Justice Ojukwu declared that Okupe, the first defendant, had broken the Money Laundering Act.
She stated that he had until 4.30 pm to choose between paying the total N13 million fine for all the charges for which he was found guilty or being sent to the Kuje Correctional Center.
In sentencing Okupe, Justice Ojukwu took into account the pleas for mercy made by the convict’s wife, Omolola, and his son, Adesunkanmi.
The judge held that there was “no evidence that the money passed through a financial institution” and that Okupe was not a financial institution, and even though the president was said to have authorised the funds, he did not say that the money had to be paid in cash.
This was despite the fact that the Money Laundering Act stated that no individual or organisation shall receive any sum above N5 million and N10 million, respectively, without passing through a financial institution.
Also Read: Doyin Okupe: LP National Chairman Breaks Silence on the Okupe Sacking- Reveals Next Action
Because the prosecution was unable to prove that the NSA was guilty of money laundering, criminal breach of trust, and corruption, the court found Okupe guilty in counts 34, 35, 36 to 59 and freed him in counts 1 to 33.
Okupe was charged with receiving different amounts of money ranging from N10m on various occasions between 2012 and 2015 while serving as Jonathan’s assistant in counts 34 to 59, for which he was found guilty.
He claimed that the aforementioned amount was used to maintain his office, pay staff members, and defame the former President and his administration.
Receiving such sums in cash, the court determined, was against the Money Laundering Act.
Okupe completes bail and pays the N13 million fine.
Francis Oronsaye, Okupe’s attorney, pleaded with the court to exercise mercy because his client was a first-time offender, a family man who has health issues that he is currently treating in Nigeria and abroad, and because he was a first-time offender.
This online newspaper did learn that Okupe was able to pay his fine before the deadline and was given permission to leave.
According to a source, “Okupe has paid; they came back with the bank papers at 4:25 p.m. Everyone signed it, including the attorney for the EFCC, and the court processed it.
Okupe tweeted shortly after his release, “God is not a man. The adversaries have made numerous attempts but have consistently failed. Victory belongs to God.
Money laundering: Doyin Okupe pays N13m, escapes two-year jail
