Former senior special assistant on media to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Dr. Doyin Okupe has paid the sum of N13 million to escape 52 year jail term slammed on him by an Abuja court over money laundering.
Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu had today, December 19, sentenced the former presidential aide to a 52-year jail term after he was convicted for money laundering and diversion of funds.
Okupe, who is currently the Director-General of the Labour Party (LP) Presidential Campaign Council, was arraigned on a 59-count charge of money laundering by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for accepting N204 million from the former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, in 2014.
Justice Ojukwu found the defendant guilty in 26 out of the 59 charges. She ordered that the 26 charges which attract a two-year jail term each, would run concurrently.
The judge, however, gave the convict an option of N500, 000 fine in each of the counts, totaling N13 million to be paid before 4:30 p.m. on Monday.
She ordered that Okupe be taken to Kuje correctional centre in Abuja to serve his jail term if he fails to pay the fine within the time frame.
However, a check by journalists at the court at about 6:00 p.m today showed that Okupe had paid the N13 million and went home a free man.
