EFCC says DSS arrested Okupe in error
Anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has explained that the Department of State Services (DSS) arrested Dr Doyin Okupe, a former aide to ex-Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, last Thursday morning, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos based on old information it had on the politician.
According to the EFCC, Okupe, a chieftain of the Labour Party (LP) was arrested by the DSS acting on the agency’s old records, as the politician had been on its watch-list following his earlier arrest by the agency and subsequent conviction for money laundering by a court in the country.
The EFCC, in a statement signed by its Head, Media and Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren, however, stated that the agency is, however, in the process of lifting the ‘watchlist’ status of Okupe.
“The Service acted on a Watch-list request issued on July 18, 2016, over six years before his recent conviction on money laundering charges by the Federal High Court, Abuja.
“The Commission was in the process of formally lifting the watch-list before his interception and will expedite action in this regard,” the agency said, Thursday.
It would be recalled that Dr Okupe was intercepted by the DSS at Terminal 1 of the Lagos airport, Thursday morning, at the instance of the EFCC.
Okupe was then handed over to the EFCC which requested the initial arrest.
Okupe was billed to fly to London via Virgin Atlantic airlines.
However, reacting to his arrest, Okupe confirmed on his Twitter page shortly after, saying: “I was arrested & detained @ the MMIA, Lagos this morning, 12th Jan on my way to UK for medicals; years after my passport had been withheld by the FHC Abuja.
“I just left the EFCC office where Snr Officers in Lagos & Abuja apologised to me for the error
“OCCUPATIONAL HAZZARD abi?”
Okupe’s latest arrest comes barely one month after he was convicted for money laundering by Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of a Federal High Court in Abuja.
