It came like a flash in the pan. No one expected what transpired. Before Nigerians knew what was happening, the news was all over the place on the social media. To many people, it was like one of those stunts being pulled by political opponents. So, much seriousness was not attached to the breaking news that ‘Court convicts Okupe of money laundering.’ But a matter of hours later, it became crystal clear that the ebullient Doyin Okupe was indeed, a step away from Kuje Correctional Centre.
That facility was in the news for the wrong reasons in the month of July this year when a band of elements suspected to be Boko Haram invaded the place in circumstances that have remained questionable till now, and effortlessly released their kinds being held there for assorted attrocities against the state and humanity, including mindless murders. So, when another news broke, ‘Okupe goes to jail’, it became obvious that it was not a creation of Facebook mischief makers.
Following his conviction on Monday, Okupe resigned from his position as Campaign Director-General the following day.
He paid the sum of N13million, after Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu found him guilty of receiving over N200 million cash from former National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki.
The fine was paid just few hours to the deadline given by the court.
In a twit on Tuesday announcing his resignation, Okupe said: “It is time to step aside. But I am with Peter Obi and the Obidients and the Presidential Campaigns till God gives us victory in Jesus Name.”
In a letter he addressed to the Labour Party’s Presidential Candidate, Peter Obi and personally signed by him, the former DG stated: “You will recall that I briefed you about my personal travail in seeking justice speaking and clearing my name using the Nigerian Legal system to pursue same.
“I have invested too much in your campaign to allow my personal travails to become a source of distraction
“In the circumstances, I have opted to step aside and plead that you appoint a new campaign DG who can continue the assignment with zero distractions.”
Ojukwu had in the judgment, 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.
The Judge had held that the Act provides that no individual or organisation shall receive any sum above N5 million and N10 million respectively without passing through a financial institution, adding that “there is no evidence that the money passed through a financial institution.”
Ojukwu had based her judgment on the fact that the NSA is not a financial institution, adding that even if the president was said to have authorised the funds, he did not say that the money must be paid in cash in violation of Money Laundering Act.
The court therefore, held that the first defendant, Okupe was guilty in counts 34, 35, 36, and 59.
Ojukwu however, said Okupe was found not guilty in counts 1 to 33 on the grounds that the prosecution failed to establish the charge of money laundering and criminal breach of trust and corruption against the NSA.
In counts 34 to 59 upon which Okupe was convicted, he was accused of receiving various sums ranging from N10 million on different occasions from 2012 to 2015 when he was SSA to President Goodluck Jonathan.
The court sentenced Okupe to two years imprisonment on count 34 with an option of a fine.
At the time this was happening, Peter Obi, the Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party was in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State in continuation of his campaign.
When he later engaged journalists in question and answer session, he regretted what has happened and remarked that the law must take its course, emphasising however, that he was resolute in his ambition and that Okupe’s travail would not break that resolve.
“I am hearing about it (the conviction) just like you. I am still studying what is coming out of the courts and everything. I believe in the rule of law. It is not going to demoralise me,” he said.
Nigerians who knew how close Okupe was with Obi and his importance to the campaign initially expressed worries. But before Okupe tendered a letter of resignation, a highly placed party chieftain of the party told BusinessDay that the Director-General position was going to be given to someone else.
“Dr. Doyin Okupe is astute; there is no doubt about that. He means a lot to our campaign and that’s why even the opposition see him as a pillar behind His Excellency Peter Obi, and they believe that taking him away would help their cause. You remember the number of battles he has faced in recent times. His official announcement as DG raised some dust. The other day, some people in his state said he had been expelled. And now this. But this is a court ruling over a mistake of the past. Our Presidential candidate is sensitive to things like that. And to prove to the world our transparency, Dr. Okupe will not continue as the DG,” the party chieftain had said.
Okupe, a former member of the PDP, saw the new Nigeria in Peter Obi’s ambition and decided to work with him. He has been with Obi since the former Anambra State governor declared his intention to contest the number one public office in the country.
Following his conviction, it became very clear to him and his party that should he continue with his assignment, his baggage, as it were, could rub off negatively on the party’s quest to win the February 25th Presidential election.
Read also: 2023: Why G5 Governors may endorse Peter Obi – Source
If he did not resign, he would no longer speak boldly and would not have the strength to bark at the opposition or boldly market his candidate without running into a situation where people would be pointing at “bleating goats at his backyard.”
Okupe’s shortcoming bordered on errors of omission and commission. He served in a government that believed in frittering away the commonwealth for parochial reasons. He served in a Jonathanian era when there was a human Automated Teller Machine (ATM) in Sambo Dasuki, who was a National Security Adviser (NSA), and whose major job, unfortunately turned into just dishing out money to whosoever that has what looked like a note from the then chief occupant of the Presidential Villa.
Okupe was convicted of charges bordering on going against the nation’s Money Laundering Act, which though existed on paper but was never heeded at the highest level of governance and by those who should ensure its implementation. And so, he innocently carted away over N200million in Ghana-Must-Go bag, though not in one tranche, to execute an urgent work for the master. That was how Okupe from Ogun State got entangled with the law.
Now, the man who approved the movement of that money is enjoying himself, without an invitation from the Economic and Financial Ctimes Commisdion (EFCC), whereas those who acted on his instruction are being prosecuted and convicted. Talk of the aphorism of rat and lizard soaking in water; by the time the lizard had freed itself from cold and wetness, the rat is still battling excessive cold and still drenched.
How may his exit from directorship affect Obi?
The recurring question since he announced his resignation from the DG portfolio is, will it not affect the Rescue Nigeria Project? The party believes that the mission to rescue the country was not couched around Doyin Okupe, but Peter Obi, and that as a result Nigerians are still solidly behind their candidate, Obi.
A stalwart of the party, who spoke on condition of anonymity said: “Dr. Okupe is a factor in the Peter Obi presidential campaign but at the same time not indispensable. The only person that is indispensable in this project is His Excellency, Peter Obi. The Nigerian masses who have suffered so much over the years in the hands of career politicians want to reclaim their country through Obi. They are not demoralised by the Okupe’s travails in so far as it does not directly involve our Presidential candidate.
“You can take this to the bank that Peter Obi is on his way to clinching victory. Nigerians have resolved to give him that victory. Dr. Okupe is still with us. He is a good man; God-fearing man at that; he has a good heart, and I assure you, ‘no shaking.’ God is on our side; that is the major thing.”
