Okupe Pays N13m Fine After Conviction Over Money Laundering

Okupe Pays N13m Fine After Conviction Over Money Laundering

Doyin Okupe, the director-general of Peter Obi’s presidential campaign council, paid a N13 million fine for violating the Money Laundering Act.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission charged Okupe with 59 counts, and he was found guilty on 26 of them (EFCC).

Earlier in the day, Ijeoma Ojukwu, the presiding judge of an Abuja federal high court, sentenced Okupe to two years in prison with the option of paying a N500,000 fine on each count, for a total of N13 million.

According to NAN, there was a condition that the fine must be paid before 4:30pm on Monday.

The judge said the NSA is not a financial institution and although the former president allegedly authorised the funds, he did not specify a cash payment in violation of the Money Laundering Act.

“I find the first defendant, Dr. Doyin Okupe, guilty on counts 34, 35, 36, to 59,” the court ruled.

Meanwhile, speaking during an interaction with journalists in Akwa Ibom, Peter Obi, Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, said the conviction of Okupe will not affect his campaign.

“I am hearing about it (the conviction) just like you. I am still studying what is coming out of the court and everything. I believe in the rule of law. It is not going to demoralise me,” NAN quoted Obi as saying.