How DSS Arrested Doyin Okupe Based On EFCC’s 2016 Request, Commission To Update Watchlist
The embattled former Director-General of the Labour Party Presidential Campaign Council, Dr. Doyin Okupe, was arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS) based on a request made by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in 2016.
Consequently, the EFCC has said that the former presidential aide to then President Olusegun Obasanjo will be removed from the Commission’s watchlist.
Dr. Doyin Okupe was arrested on Thursday morning by the DSS at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.
Fresh revelation indicates that Okupe had been on the EFCC watchlist for about six years since 2016, hence the action by the DSS.
“Dr. Okupe is one of the individuals, groups or organizations that required close surveillance for legal reasons.
“In his case, he has been on our watchlist since 2016,” an EFCC source is quoted to have said.
Speaking on Okupe’s arrest by the DSS and his subsequent transfer to the Commission, the anti-graft agency’s spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, said the EFCC would take immediate action to remove the former presidential aide from its watchlist.
Uwujaren said, “Concerning the interception of Doyin Okupe, the DSS, today, January 12, informed the Commission of the interception of Dr. Okupe, former presidential adviser, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.
“The Service acted on a watchlist request issued on July 18, 2016, over six years before his recent conviction on money laundering charges by the Federal High Court, Abuja.
“The Commission was in the process of formally lifting the watch list before his interception, and will expedite action in this regard.”
While confirming the arrest of the former Director General of the Labour Party Presidential Campaign Council, the DSS spokesperson, Dr. Peter Afunanya, said, “Okupe was intercepted by the DSS at Terminal 1 of Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos this morning at the instance of the EFCC.
“He has long been handed over to the Commisson which requested for the action. Okupe was billed to fly to London via Virgin Atlantic.”
Recall that Okupe was sentenced to two and a half years imprisonment for breaching the Money Laundering Act or with an option of fine.
Justice Ojukwu, in a judgment, held that Okupe as a former Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on media to ex-president Goodluck Jonathan was found guilty of contravening Sections 16(1)&(2) of the Money Laundering Act, for accepting cash payments without going through a financial institution, in excess of the threshold allowed under the Act.
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