Metro

Okupe Beats 4:30pm Deadline, Pays N13m Conviction Fine

Published

3 years ago

December 19, 2022

Mr Doyin Okupe, former Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Media to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, on Monday evening, paid N13 million for the 52-year jail term bagged for N240 million money laundering offence.

Recall that Justuce Ijeoma Ojukwu, in a judgment, had found Okupe guilty in 26 out of the 59 counts preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Justice Ojukwu had ordered that the 26 counts, which attracted 2-year jail-term each, would run concurrently, meaning, the convict would only spend two years in prison.

The judge, however, gave an option of N500,000 in each of the counts, amounting to N13 million, which must be paid before 4:30pm (the close of work) today.

She ordered that if Okupe failed to meet the option of fine within the time frame, he should be taken to Kuje Correctional Centre to serve his prison term.

However, a check at the court at about 6pm showed that Okupe, who is the Director General of the Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) of the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, had paid the money.

The wife and son of Okupe had pleaded for leniency after he was convicted.

Mrs Omolola and Mr Adesunkanmi Okupe, while testifying to the convict’s good character, begged the court to temper justice with mercy.

Omolola decsribed her husband as a good man.

“I got married to him on the 1st of May, 1991.

“My husband is a very good person. He had been a role model to myself and children with sound Christian values.

“I have never found him in any allegation of this before. I will like to appeal to the court for leniency.

“My husband has dedicated his life to serve the nation and he is not here today because he is found guilty of the offence, but because of his mistake.

“I ask the court to consider his health and age which is 70 years. He has run his family effectively my lord,” she said.

Also, Adesunkanmi said: “I have known him for 31 years.

“He is a man of honesty and integrity with great character..

“I have a privilege of being mentored by him throughout my life time.

“He had imparted in me high value of perseverance and hard work that greatness comes by following God, unbending faith and diligence.

“This among many other is what I have learnt about Okupe.”

He appealed to the court to be lenient

Besides, former Governor of old Anambra, Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife, and former National Orientation Agency (NOA), Dr Idi Farouk, had also urged the court to temper justice with mercy in Okupe’s sentencing.

The judge had, earlier, stood down proceedings for Okupe to exercise his right under Section 310 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) to call witnesses to testify about his character, before the court could proceed to pronounce sentence on the convict.

NAN reports that the court, presided over by Justice Ojukwu, had convicted Okupe for breaching the Money Laundering Act.

The judge held that Okupe was found guilty of contravening Sections 16(1)&(2) of the Money Laundering Act, for accepting cash payments without going through financial institution, in excess of the threshold allowed under the Act.

Okupe was said to have received N240 million in cash from the office of the former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (retired).

Metro

50-year-old Man Arrested For Alleged Murder Of Traveller

Published

11 hours ago

October 31, 2025

Editor

A 50-year-old man, Muhammad Wanzam, has been arrested by the Kebbi State Police Command for allegedly killing a traveller, Alhaji Babuga Muhammad, in Bena, Danko-Wasagu Local Government Area of the state.

According to the Command’s spokesperson, CSP Nafi’u Abubakar, the incident occurred on October 16, 2025, when the victim was travelling from Bena town to his village, Karaye in Bagega District, Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

The assailants reportedly blocked the road near Malakachi village, abducted the victim, and took him into a nearby forest, where he was attacked with a machete. The victim later died from his injuries.

Abubakar said police officers from the Bena Division visited the scene and took the body to the General Hospital, Bena, where he was confirmed dead.

Wanzam was later arrested in connection with the killing. During interrogation, he allegedly confessed to conspiring with an accomplice, Nuhu Bena, who is currently on the run, to commit the crime.

A search of Wanzam’s residence led to the recovery of one fabricated AK-47 rifle, a Dane gun, two live ammunition, one magazine, and the cutlass reportedly used in the attack.

The case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, SCID, Birnin Kebbi, for further investigation and to track down the fleeing suspect.

Police authorities urged residents to report suspicious activities to security agencies instead of resorting to self-help, assuring that efforts to ensure safety and order across the state are ongoing.

Metro

Police Rescue Suspected Phone Thief From Being Lynched In Delta

Published

12 hours ago

October 31, 2025

Editor

Police officers from the Sapele Division in Sapele Local Government Area of Delta State on Thursday night rescued a suspected phone thief from being lynched by some angry mob who apprehended him after he allegedly attacked one of their kinsmen around Shell Road and New Road in Sapele.

According to DAILY POST, the suspect, alongside a member of his criminal gang who fled the scene, allegedly stabbed and injured the victim, a Hausa youth, before stealing his mobile phone.

The victim raised an alarm, prompting his kinsmen and residents to come to his rescue.

The suspect was chased down and apprehended, while his accomplice escaped.

The suspected thief was beaten to a stupor until he confessed to the crime and revealed the name of one of his fleeing gang members as “Azaman.”

Metro

Another Accident On Otedola Bridge Causes Fresh Traffic Disruption In Lagos

Published

12 hours ago

October 31, 2025

Editor

Barely 24 hours after a multiple-truck crash on Kara Bridge caused major gridlock along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, another road accident occurred on Friday, involving a 14-tyre truck and a commercial bus on the Otedola Bridge, inward the Lagos Secretariat.

The incident, which led to yet another round of traffic congestion, was confirmed in a statement released on Friday by the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, through its official X handle.

According to the agency, the crash occurred when a 14-tyre tipper truck carrying granite collided with an inter-state commercial Mazda bus.

The impact forced the truck into the road barrier, spilling its contents across the roadway opposite Capital Oil, just before the Otedola Bridge section of the expressway.

The statement read: “A 14-tyre tipper conveying granite had a collision with an inter-state commercial Mazda bus. The tipper ran into the barrier and spilled its contents on the road opposite Capital Oil, just before the expressway on Otedola Bridge inward Secretariat. There is no significant effect on traffic flow at the moment.”

LASTMA officials said recovery efforts were ongoing as a tow truck was expected to arrive at the scene, while personnel remained stationed at the location to manage traffic and ensure safety.

This latest crash comes a day after another tragic multiple-truck collision on Kara Bridge, outward Lagos, claimed at least eight lives and caused a massive traffic backlog stretching through Berger and adjoining routes.