By Vivian Okejeme, Abuja
Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has sent the former President Goodluck Jonathan, Senior Special Adviser (SSA), Dr Doyin Okupe, to two years in Kuje Correctional center.
The now Director General of Presidential Campaign of Labour Party(LP) was found guilty of receiving over N200 million cash from former former National Security Adviser (NSA) Col. Sambo Dasuki.
However, Okupe was given an option of N13m fine which to be paid before 4pm today, Monday.
Specifically, the court find Dr Doyin Okupe guilty in counts 34, 35, 36 to 59, where he was accused of receiving various sums ranging from N10 million on different occasions from 2012 to 2015 when he was SSA to president Jonathan.
Deciding in the suit filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the court held that Okupe violated the Money Laundering Act.
Justice Ojukwu stated that the Act provides that no individual or organization shall receive any sum above N5million and N10million respectively without passing through a financial institution.
The court also stated that “there is no evidence that the money passed through a financial institution.”
Further in the judgement, the court posited that the NSA was not a financial institution, adding that even if the president was said to have authorized the funds, he did not say that the money must be paid in cash in violation of the money laundering.
The judge however found the defendants not guilty in counts 1 to 33 on the grounds that the prosecution failed to establish the charge of money Laundering and criminal breach of trust and corruption against the NSA.
The said sum according to him were expended on running the office, payment of staffs and image laundering of the former president and his administration.
Reacting to the judgement, counsel to Okupe, Mr Francis Oronsaye, pleaded with the court to tamper justice with mercy on the grounds that the defendant was a first time offender, a family man who is also advanced in age and having health challenges that he is currently treating in Nigeria and outside the country.
Oronsaye, citing Section 310 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, urged the court to stand down the matter to enable him call witnesses that will attest to the good character of Okupe.
Lawyers to the second and third defendants also lend their voices in the plea for mercy, adding that the convict was a mere victim of circumstances.
Although the request was opposed by prosecution lawyer, Mr Audu Ibrahim, the judge however stood down the matter to enable the defendant called his witnesses before handing down her sentence.
