NEWS UPDATE: Doyin Okupe pays N13m option of fine, after conviction for money laundering

By KEMI KASUMU

Update on the earlier conviction and sentencing by court of Dr. Doyin Okupe, former Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Media to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, indicates that he has paid the sum of N13 million as option of fine to avoid going to Kuje Correctional Center to serve his two-year jail term for money laundering offence.

The DEFENDER reports that Okupe, who currently sells Peter Obi’s candidacy to Nigerians as Director-General of Labour Party Presidential Campaign Council, was earlier convicted and handed a two-year jail term with option of fine by a Federal High Court in Abuja.

Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu, in a judgment, had found Okupe guilty in 26 out of the 59 counts preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Justice Ojukwu had ordered that the 26 counts, which attracted two-year jail-term each, would run concurrently, meaning, the convict would only spend two years in prison.

The judge, however, gave an option of N500, 000 in each of the counts, amounting to N13 million, which must be paid before 4:30pm (the close of work) same day (Monday).

She ordered that if Okupe failed to meet the option of fine within the time frame, he should be taken to Kuje Correctional Centre to serve his prison term.

However, a check at the court at about 6pm reportedly showed that Okupe had paid the money.

The wife and son of Okupe had pleaded for leniency after he was convicted.

Another source said payment by Okupe was confirmed by the Labour Party Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), which reportedly said that its embattled Director-General, Doyin Okupe, had paid N13 million fine following his conviction by a Federal High Court Abuja on Monday.

The PCC Media Officer, Diran Onifade, made this known in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital ahead of the party’s rally in the state on Tuesday.

He said as the party that respects the rule of law, its officials will obey court judgments promptly.

Onifade, however, said appealing the judgment is a personal decision of Okupe and that the PCC cannot influence it.

It was not clear as at the time of filing this report whether or not the Labour Party was responsible for the raising of the money for the payment of fine as it was not contained in the statement of the PCC Meida Officer.