His death was confirmed on Friday.

Details surrounding his passing remain unclear at the time of filling this report.

Okupe, 72, was Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to President Olusegun Obasanjo and Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs to President Goodluck Jonathan.

In December 2022, Okupe stepped down from Obi’s campaign after being convicted of money laundering.

He later resigned from the Labour Party following the 2023 general election fallout and later became a vocal supporter of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, frequently engaging in political debates and commentary.

Okupe was known for his bold political stance and unfiltered opinions. His ability to navigate Nigeria’s complex political landscape made him both a respected and controversial figure.

The post Breaking: Doyin Okupe dies at 72 appeared first on Daily Dates Nigeria.

The PCC Media Officer, Diran Onifade made this known in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital ahead of the party’s rally in the state on Tuesday.

He said as the party that respects the rule of law, its officials will obey court judgments promptly.

Onifade, however, said appealing the judgment is a personal decision Okupe and that the PCC cannot influence that.

Earlier on Monday, Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu found Okupe guilty of receiving over N200 million cash from former National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki.

Delivering the judgement,  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”.

According to Justice Ojukwu, the NSA is not a financial institution, adding that even if the president was said to have authorized the funds, he did not say that the money must be paid in cash in violation of money laundering.

Consequently, the court held that the first defendant, Okupe was guilty in counts 34, 35, 36, and 59.

The Judge, however, found the defendants 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.

The post Labour Party Campaign DG, Okupe Pays N13m Fine Over Money Laundering appeared first on Daily Dates Nigeria.

Recall that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, had arraigned Okupe in 2019 on a 59-count charge bordering on alleged money laundering and diversion of funds to the tune of N702 million.

Okupe was said to have received cash from the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) while Sambo Dasuki was in office.

Delivering judgment on Monday, Ojukwu found Okupe guilty of contravening sections 16(1)&(2) of the Money Laundering Act, for accepting cash payments without going through a financial institution, in excess of the threshold allowed under the Act.

The matter has been stood down until 1:45pm to allow the convict (Okupe) to call witnesses to testify about his character, as enshrined under Section 310 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA).

The post Court Convicts Peter Obi Campaign DG, Doyin Okupe For Money Laundering appeared first on Daily Dates Nigeria.