Exclusive Report - EFCC arraigns Doyin Okupe for alleged N702m fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned Doyin Okupe, a spokesman of the Atiku Abubakar presidential campaign organisation, over allegations of fraud.
The comission arraigned Okupe before a federal high court sitting in Abuja on Monday, on a 59-count charge bordering on alleged money laundering and diversion of funds to the tune of N702 million.

Okupe, who was a media aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, was arraigned before Ijeoma Ojukwu, a judge, along with two companies – Value Trust Investment Ltd and Abrahams Telecoms Ltd.
One of the counts reads: “That you, Dr. Doyin Okupe, being the Senior Special Assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan from July 2012 to May 2015, and being the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, and a signatory to the bank account of Abrahams Telecoms Ltd, on or about the 3rd October, 2014 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, directly took possession or control of the sum of N35 million, transferred to the account of Abrahams Telecoms Ltd from the account of the Office of the National Security Adviser with the Central Bank of Nigeria purporting to be for special services when you reasonably ought to have known that the said fund formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful activity”.

He, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges after which Tolu Babaleiye, his counsel, prayed the court to admit the defendant to bail.
Babaleiye urged the court to admit the defendant to bail on self recognizance adding that “he will not jump bail as he is well known”.
But Ibrahim Audu, prosecuting counsel, argued against the bail, saying “the defendant was given administrative bail after he volunteered his statement thereafter, he was nowhere to be found until December 2018 in Lagos”.
He also asked the court to take into consideration, “the gravity of the punishment in the event of conviction on the charges brought against the defendant”.

Thereafter, the judge granted bail to the defendant in the sum of N100 million with one surety in like sum.
He said the surety must be resident within the jurisdiction of the court, and must have landed properties which must also be within the jurisdiction of the court, among other requirements.
The judge subsequently adjourned to February 27 for commencement of trial.

Leaders of Accord Party warns Doyin Okupe to stop parading self as South-West leader

Chairmen and leaders of Accord party in the South- West have warned Dr. Doyin Okupe to desist from parading himself as leader of the party in the zone.

The party gave the warning in the communique issued at the end of its meeting in Ibadan on Tuesday .
The communique stated that the party in the South- West viewed a purported meeting organised by Doyin Okupe as of no effect and people that attended have no locus standi to do so on behalf of the party.

” Action is going on to identify erring party members who were at the meeting with Okupe and sanctions are awaiting them at the zonal level . ’’ It said that it was untrue that its National Secretary, Mrs . Adebukola Ajaja and National Vice - Chairman, South- West, Alhaji Dokun Babarinnde, attended Okupe’s meeting .

”The Accord Southwest is one and indivisible under the leadership of Alhaji Dotun Babatunde and other national officers from the zone ,” the party stated . The communique stated that all representatives of the party in the region had agreed that the anti - party activities of Okupe would be reported to the national body of the party for further actions .

Earlier , at the meeting , Mr . Isaac Adeniyi , Chairman, Board of Trustees of the party, had expressed concern over the anti - party activities of Okupe and urged the party’s leadership in the South- West to treat the report with urgency . Adeniyi informed party members and state executive that Okupe, with some unknown persons held a meeting in Ogun where he declared himself as the leader of the party in the South- West.

Representatives of the party in states in the zone , including Chief Kayode Ojo (Ondo), Alhaji Muda Ogunsola (Oyo), Isiaka Amusa (Ogun ), Alhaji Abdulrahman Opawuyi (Osun) and Mr Rotimi Ajibola (Lagos) attended the meeting .
(NAN )