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Money Laundering: Doyin Okupe to pay N500,000 fine or risk two years in prison

Mr Okupe has an option of N500,000 fine and accept the guilty verdict, or file an appeal and be taken into custody until further directives.

• December 19, 2022
Doyin Okupe
Doyin Okupe

Justice Ijeoma Ojuwku of a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has sentenced Doyin Okupe, the director-general of the Peter Obi presidential campaign, two years imprisonment following a guilty verdict on charges of money laundering and diversion of funds.

Mr Okupe was earlier today found guilty of 26 counts  (34-59) out of the 59 charges on allegations of syphoning N10 million on multiple occasions between 2012 and 2015 while serving as Senior Special Adviser to former President Goodluck Jonathan.

In her ruling on Monday afternoon, Justice Ojukwu, who is the presiding judge in the case dating back to 2019 brought against the Ogun-born politician by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), handed Mr Okupe a two-year imprisonment sentence.

However, the court gave Mr Okupe an option of N500,000 fine which should be paid before 4:30 p.m. of Monday, December 19, certifying the acceptance of a guilty verdict, or file an appeal and be taken into custody until further directives.

Meanwhile, Mr Okupe wasn’t found guilty by the Judge on counts 1 to 33 on the basis that the EFCC failed to establish the offence of money laundering and criminal breach of trust and corruption against former NSA Sambo Dasuki.

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