The Director General, Peter Obi Presidential Campaign Organisation, Dr. Doyin Okupe has resigned his appointment following his conviction Monday by an Abuja Federal court over money laundering.
In a letter sent to Peter Obi, on Tuesday, Okupe said, “You will recall that I briefed you yesterday about my personal travails in seeking justice and clearing my name using the Nigerian Legal System to pursue same.
“I have invested too much in your campaign to allow my personal travails to become a source of distraction.
“In the circumstances, | have opted to step aside and plead that you appoint a new Campaign DG who can continue the assignment with zero distractions.”
Though Obi has said that the conviction of his DG would not demoralize him but Okupe has been conspicuously absent from the recent campaigns by the Labour Party.
Ruling on Monday, Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu found Okupe guilty of contravening sections 16(1)&(2) of the Money Laundering Act, for accepting cash payments without going through the financial institution, in excess of the threshold allowed under the Act.
The court ruled that Okupe received hundreds of millions in cash from the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) while Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd) was in office.
In 2019, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned Okupe on a 59-count charge bordering on alleged money laundering and diversion of funds to the tune of N702 million.
He was charged alongside two companies – Value Trust Investment Ltd and Abrahams Telecoms Ltd.
Okupe was found guilty on counts 34, 35, 36, and 59.
Okupe was Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to President Olusegun Obasanjo and Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs to President Goodluck Jonathan.
