Doyin Okupe: “Never Convicted of Corruption, Only Money Laundering”

Doyin Okupe, a former Director-General of the Peter Obi Presidential Campaign Council, has recently clarified his legal standing, stating that he was never convicted of corruption.

In a recent interview on Arise News, Okupe explained that while he was convicted of violating the Money Laundering Act, he was discharged of all 34 charges brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Okupe’s conviction stemmed from receiving cash in excess of the law’s provision from the office of the former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, while he was in office.

Despite the conviction, the presiding judge, Ijeoma Ojukwu, gave him the option to pay a fine of N500,000 for each of the 26 counts, totaling N13 million, instead of serving jail time.

In the interview, Okupe emphasized that he was never convicted of corruption and that the charges he faced were related to money laundering.

He explained that the funds in question were provided to him under the directive of the President.

Furthermore, Okupe discussed the ongoing crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), attributing it to the party’s decision to nominate a northerner for the presidency, which he believes was “unacceptable” given the sentiment for a Southern president at the time.

The clarification of his legal standing and the comments on the PDP’s internal struggles have shed light on the current political climate in Nigeria.

As the country continues to navigate through a period of political and social change, public figures like Doyin Okupe play a crucial role in shaping the discourse and addressing misconceptions.

Doyin Okupe has made it clear that he was never convicted of corruption, but rather of money laundering, and has been discharged of all charges by the EFCC.

His comments on the PDP’s crisis offer insight into the challenges faced by political parties in Nigeria as they strive to represent the diverse interests of the nation.