Doyin Okupe, the former director general of the Labour Party Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), has reportedly received an apology from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for their “mistake” in holding him in custody.
Okupe was detained by Department of State Services (DSS) personnel at the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Ikeja, Lagos State, and then turned over to the EFCC, which had earlier “asked for the action.”
For medical reasons, the former presidential adviser was traveling to London, United Kingdom.
Remember that the former PCC DG for the Labour Party resigned in 2022 after being found guilty of money laundering by a court. However, after complying all the requirements, he was given bail.
When asked about Okupe’s detention, DSS Spokesman Peter Afunanya said: “Doyin Okupe was intercepted by the DSS at Terminal 1 of Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos this morning at the instance of the EFCC.
He has long been handed over to the Commission which requested for the action. Okupe was billed to fly to London via Virgin Atlantic.”
Meanwhile, the former aide on Public Affairs to President Goodluck Jonathan, through his official Twitter handle, @doyinokupe stated, “I was arrested & detained @ the MM int airport, Lagos this morning 12th Jan on my way to UK for medicals yrs of my passport being withheld by the FHC Abuja.I hv just left the efcc office where snr officers in lagos& Abuja appologised to me for the error. OCCUPATIONAL HAZZARD abi?”
Reports indicate that one of Okupe’s lawyers, Tolu Babaleye said that the DSS asked him to provide court processes where he paid the fine option following his money laundering conviction by the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.
“When will this harassment stop? Who is after Dr. Doyin Okupe? As at today, the man has no case to answer anywhere, I hereby demand that the DSS should release my Client immediately as this is a violation of his freedom of movement, right to liberty and dignity of human person. This is unfair as man ‘s health is fast failing!,” Babaleye quizzed.
