THISDAY
Justice Ijeoma Ojuwku of the Federal High Court Abuja, has sentenced, Dr Doyin Okupe, a former Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Public Affairs to former President Goodluck Jonathan, to two years imprisonment for accepting cash transaction above the N5 million threshold approved by the Money Laundering Act.
The court, however, gave an option of N13 million fine, which should be paid before 4.30pm yesterday, which he has since paid and avoided passing the night in prison.
He was to pay the sum of N500,000 for each of the 26 counts he was convicted for, totalling N13 million, while the sentences were to run concurrently.
The judge handed down the sentence after witnesses including former Anambra Governor, Chukwuemeka Ezeife, Mohammed Idi-Farouk, former Director General of the National Orientation Agency, Okupe’s wife and son testified to his good character.
Justice Ojuwku earlier found him not guilty on counts 1 to 33 which bordered on money laundering, criminal breach of trust and corruption.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), had in January 2019, arraigned Okupe and two firms; Value Trust Investment and Abraham Telecoms on a 59-criminal count charge bordering on money laundering and fraud to the tune of N702 million.
The three defendants were accused of receiving the said funds from the alleged illegal and unlawful activities of the former National Security Adviser (NSA) Col. Sambo Dasuki (Rtd).
