Wednesday, October 7, 2026

Doyin Okupe released from SSS, EFCC custody

“I just left the EFCC office where Snr Officers in Lagos & Abuja appologised to me for the error,” Mr Okupe tweeted Thursday.

• January 12, 2023
Doyin Okupe
Doyin Okupe

Doyin Okupe says he has regained freedom after he was picked up by agents of the State Security Service (SSS) on Thursday afternoon while waiting to board a London-bound aircraft at the international wing of the airport in Lagos.

He disclosed that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) apologised for erroneously detaining him.

“I was arrested & detained @ the MMIA, Lagos this morning, 12th Jan on my way to UK for medicals; years after my passport had been withheld by the FHC Abuja,” Mr Okupe wrote in a tweet at 12:41.p.m. Thursday afternoon.

“I just left the EFCC office where Snr Officers in Lagos & Abuja appologised to me for the error. OCCUPATIONAL HAZZARD abi?” he queried in a deliberate move to ridicule the security agencies.

Tolu Babaleye, Mr Okupe’s lawyer, earlier disclosed his client was arrested to provide proof he had indeed paid the fine for his conviction last month.

Last month, Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu sentenced Mr Okupe to jail with an option of fine after he was found guilty of money laundering charges.

Mr Okupe took the option of fine to avoid getting sent to Kuje correctional facility. 

In a Facebook post, Mr Babaleye said that it was puzzling that the issue, which had been resolved after Mr Okupe paid the fine, would suddenly serve as the reason for his incarceration and “harassment.”

Peter Afunanya, SSS spokesperson told Peoples Gazette that the State Security Service arrested Mr Okupe at the behest of the EFCC and “has long handed him over to the commission,” when reached for comments.

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