EFCC Ordered Doyin Okupe’s Arrest – DSS Clears Air, Says He Is In Their Custody Now

The Department of State Services (DSS) has confirmed the arrest of the immediate past Director General of the Labour Party presidential campaign organisation, Dr Doyin Okupe.

Naija News gathered that the agency in a statement sighted by Vanguard said the Labour Party chieftain was arrested on the order of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The Public Relations Officer of the DSS, Dr Peter Afunanya, in the statement revealed that Okupe has been handed over to the EFCC.

Afunanya said “Doyin Okupe was intercepted by the DSS at Terminal 1 of Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, this morning (Thursday) at the instance of the EFCC.

“He has long been handed over to the Commission, which requested for the action.
“Okupe was billed to fly to London via Virgin Atlantic.”

Meanwhile, Naija News earlier reported that one of Okupe’s lawyers, Tolu Babaleye broke the news of his arrest.

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.

It would be 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 of, making a total of N13 million instead of going to jail.

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

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