Okupe Sentenced To Two Years In Prison For Money Laundering

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Monday, sentenced a former Senior Special Assistant, SSA, on Media to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Dr Doyin Okupe, to two years in prison. 

The judge gave the ruling as it relates to a money laundering case brought before the court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on alleged money laundering and criminal breach of trust to the tune of N702 million.

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

According to the judge, the embattled Labour Party DG was reported to have received hundreds of millions in cash from the office of the former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki while he was in office.

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Okupe served as a Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs to the then President, Goodluck Jonathan.

He was dragged before the court by the EFCC alongside two companies – Value Trust Investment Ltd and Abrahams Telecoms Ltd on a 26 count-charge.

Delivering judgment on Monday, Justice Ojukwu convicted Okupe of diverting public funds through the Office of the former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki to the tune of about N240m.

The judge ruled he kept receiving more than 5 million in cash contrary to the money laundering act and should therefore serve a two-year jail term each for count 34 to Count 39 which will run concurrently or pay 500,000 each on the 26 counts totalling N13,000,000.

The judge gave Okupe till 4:30pm today to comply with her judgement, particularly the fine or be remanded in prison following his conviction.