Okupe May Resign As Obi Campaign D-G, Pays N13m Fine

Dr Doyin Okupe has paid the N13m fine imposed on him following his conviction by a Federal High Court Abuja on Monday on the allegation of money laundering and may resign from his position as director-general of the Labour Party Presidential Campaign, sources disclosed on Monday night.

The PCC Media Officer, Diran Onifade confirmed the payment of the fine ahead of the Labour Party rally in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital 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.

However, Channels Television reported that Okupe could be replaced as director-general of the party’s presidential campaign. A decision according to a report on the station could come up anytime from Monday evening.

GWG.ng reports that some party chiefs were also supportive of the replacement of Okupe despite his yeoman’s job in mobilizing the initial campaign that thrust Peter Obi into one of the major candidates in the presidential campaign.

A top party bigwig speaking on the condition of anonymity while noting that the PDP and APC chairmen had corruption togas on them, however, said that the conviction of Okupe was an opportunity for the Labour Party to show it was difference from the two parties and hence the campaign for him to resign.

“I am in support of Okupe stepping down and there is no justification for him to remain in the position,” a prominent supporter of the Obi campaign told GWG.ng.

According to the big player, the vacancy that should emerge should Okupe resign should be filled with a northerner as a way of broadening the campaign structure.

GWG.ng reports 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”.he court sentenced Okupe to two years imprisonment on count 34 with an option of a fine.

With additional reporting by Channelstv.com

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