DSS Arrests Doyin Okupe In Lagos

A chieftain of the Labour Party (LP), Doyin Okupe has been reportedly arrested by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS).

Okupe, the immediate past Director General of the Labour Party presidential campaign organization was arrested at the Muritala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

This was disclosed on Thursday morning by one of his lawyers, Tolu Babaleye.

According to the lawyer, Okupe was on his way to London for medical treatment when he was picked up by the DSS operatives.

Babaleye added that the LP chieftain was asked to produce evidence that the Federal High Court Abuja has freed him regarding the money laundering case for which he was recently convicted and given the option of a fine.

The lawyer in his statement said the arrest is a violation of his client’s fundamental human rights and called on the DSS to release Okupe immediately without further harassment because the matter has been resolved.

He wrote: “The information reaching me now is that Dr. Doyin Okupe has been arrested at Lagos Airport by the DSS on his way to London.

“The reason according to the source is that he wax asked to produce evidence that the Federal High Court Abuja has freed him from the case in which he wax convicted and paid fine to the knowledge of the whole world and was allowed to go home.

“When will this harassment stop? Who is after Dr. Doyin Okupe? As at today, the man has no case to answer anywhere, I hereby demand that the DSS should release my Client immediately as ti’s is a violation of his freedom of movement, right to liberty and dignity of human person.

“This is unfair as the man health is fast failing!”

It will be recalled that Okupe was convicted of violating the money laundering act by receiving cash in excess of the law’s provision from the office of the former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki while he was in office.

The presiding judge, Ijeoma Ojukwu however gave him the option of paying a fine of N500,000 for each of the 26 counts he was found guilty, making a total of N13 million instead of going to jail.

Okupe is understood to have paid the fine and avoided jail term.

He subsequently resigned as the DG of the Labour Party presidential campaign council.