The Director General of the Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) of the Labour Party (LP), Doyin Okupe, has been convicted over his involvement in money laundering.
Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, on Monday, sentenced Okupe to two and half years for breaching the Money Laundering Act.
The court ruled that Okupe, who is also Senior Special Adviser (SSA) to former President Goodluck Jonathan, is guilty of receiving over N200 million cash from former National Security Adviser (NSA) Col. Sambo Dasuki.
The high court justice said Okupe was guilty of the above for collecting cash payments in excess of the threshold allowed under the Act, without going through a financial institution.
Justice Ojukwu in a judgment delivered held that the action of Okupe, who is the first defendant in the suit filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) violated the Money Laundering Act.
While stating that the Act provides that no individual or organization shall receive any sum above N5 million and N10 million respectively without passing through a financial institution, the judge held that “there is no evidence that the money passed through a financial institution”.
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Consequently, the court held, “I find the first defendant, Dr Doyin Okupe guilty in count 34, 35, 36…… 59.”
Two weeks ago, the Labour Party nullified the suspension of Okupe by the Ogun State chapter of the party.
It also announced that the suspension of the other 10 members was null and void.
The National Secretary of the party, Alhaji Umar Farouk, announced the development at a media briefing in Abuja on Friday.
He said, “It has come to the attention of the National Leadership of the Labour Party, LP that the Ogun State chapter of the party has purportedly suspended one of the party members who happens to be the Director General of the Presidential Campaign Committee.
“The Ogun state chapter has acted outside its constitutional Jurisdiction. The party has an internal conflict resolution mechanism of handling cases against party members as enshrined in the party’s Constitution.”