Metro News

Doyin Okupe jailed two years for money laundering

Published

1 year ago

December 19, 2022

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A federal high court in Abuja has sentenced Doyin Okupe, the director-general of the Peter Obi presidential campaign council, to two years imprisonment for breaching the money laundering act.

In a judgment delivered on Monday, Okupe was found guilty of 26 out of a 59-count charge preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Ijeoma Ojukwu, the presiding judge, sentenced Okupe to two years in prison on each of the counts.

However, the sentence is to run concurrently.

Additionally, the judge said the convict is at liberty to pay a N500,000 fine on each of the counts — totalling N13 million.

The EFCC had arraigned Okupe in 2019 on a 59-count charge bordering on alleged money laundering and diversion of funds to the tune of N702 million.

He was arraigned alongside two companies – Value Trust Investment Ltd and Abrahams Telecoms Ltd.

Okupe was said to have received cash from the office of the national security adviser (NSA) while Sambo Dasuki, the NSA at the time, was in office.

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Ojukwu found Okupe guilty of contravening sections 16(1)&(2) of the Money Laundering Act by accepting cash payments in excess of the threshold allowed under the Act, without going through a financial institution.

The judge said the NSA is not a financial institution and although the former president allegedly authorised the funds, he did not specify a cash payment in violation of the Money Laundering Act.

“I find the first defendant, Dr. Doyin Okupe, guilty on counts 34, 35, 36, to 59,” the court ruled.

The judge, however, found the defendants not guilty on counts one to 33 on the grounds that the prosecution failed to establish the charge of money laundering, criminal breach of trust, and corruption against the NSA.

Testifying shortly after the conviction in accordance with section 310 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), Omolola — Okupe’s wife — and Adesunkanmi — his son — begged the court to temper justice with mercy.

READ 2023: Ganduje directs all political appointees to resign

Related Topics:DOYIN OKUPE IMPRISONMENT MONEY LAUNDERING

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Metro News

Police arrest woman for trafficking 16-year-old secondary school girl to Libya

Published

15 hours ago

May 12, 2024

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Operatives of the Ogun state police command have arrested a middle-aged woman, Abike Olonade, for trafficking a 16-year-old student to Libya.

It was reliably gathered that the victim, whose name is yet to be disclosed, is a student of Adeoye Lambo Secondary School in Obada Oko, Ewekoro Local Government Area of Ogun State.

Confirming the arrest, the command’s spokesperson, Omolola Odutola, in a statement in Abeokuta, on Saturday, said the suspect confessed to trafficking the victim to Libya.

She said, “One Abike Olonade has been arrested for trafficking 16 year old student of Ademoye Lambo Secondary School in Obada Oko, Ogun State.

“She confessed that the victim has been trafficked to Libya.”

READ Retired matron bags 10-year jail term for buying six-year-old boy for N50,000, selling him N200,000

Metro News

Ajayi Crowther varsity guards arrested for raping female student

Published

1 day ago

May 11, 2024

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The management of Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo State, on Saturday, announced the arrest of two members of its vigilante group for allegedly raping a female student of the institution.

The management, in a statement by its Public Relations Officer, Olufemi Atoyebi, said the university had set up its own internal panel of inquiry to investigate the allegation.

Atoyebi said the suspects have been handed over to the police with a vow to ensure heavy penalty on anyone found culpable after a thorough investigation.

He, therefore, assured all stakeholders that the institution would not tolerate any act of misconduct capable of tarnishing its enviable image.

The statement read in part, “Management of Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo received with shock a report of alleged rape of one of our female students on Thursday, May 9, 2024, by two members of our vigilance group.

“The management promptly handed over to the police, the two people alleged to have committed the crime while the university has set up its own internal panel of inquiry to investigate the allegation.

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“The management wishes to assure all stakeholders that ACU will not tolerate any act of misconduct capable of tarnishing its enviable image.

“Raising Godly intellectuals is our primary goal in ACU and we will not allow any act of misconduct capable of diverting our attention from our goal. Heavy penalty awaits anyone who is found culpable after our thorough investigation.”

Metro News

JUST IN: XeJet Airlines plane skids off Lagos airport runway

Published

1 day ago

May 11, 2024

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A XeJet Airlines plane, On Saturday, veered off the runway at the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal Two (MMA2) in Lagos.

The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) confirmed the incident in a statement on Saturday.

The bureau said the aircraft, which departed Abuja, skidded off runway 18L on landing in Lagos — making a halt on “the grass verge.”

According to the agency, about 52 passengers were on board the ill-fated aircraft, with the call sign 5NBZZ.

“NSIB confirms that an aircraft belonging to Xejet airlines skidded off the runway at the domestic wing of Murtala Muhammed Airport this morning. A go team has been deployed to the site of the incident,” the statement reads.

“Fire and Rescue on ground to help in evacuation of the passengers.”

The bureau said the runway has been closed to traffic at the moment.