Labour Party moves to replace Doyin Okupe as the Director-General over money laundering conviction

There are indications that the Labour Party (LP) may replace Doyin Okupe as the Director-General of its 2023 Presidential Campaign Council, Channels Television gathered.

An impeccable source within the party, who spoke exclusively with Channels Television on Monday, confirmed that talks are already ongoing to replace Okupe.

The source, however, said the decision will be jointly taken by all concerned including Okupe himself.

Although he declined to mention possible replacements, feelers have former presidential aide, Akin Oshuntokun as a front runner to take Okupe’s position.

Okupe was earlier on Monday found guilty of receiving over N200 million cash from former National Security Adviser (NSA) Sambo Dasuki by Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of a Federal High Court in Abuja.

Justice Ojukwu held that the action of Okupe, who is the first defendant in the suit filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), violated the Money Laundering Act.

While stating that the Act provides that no individual or organization shall receive any sum above N5 million and N10 million respectively without passing through a financial institution, the judge held that “there is no evidence that the money passed through a financial institution”.

The court consequently held that the first defendant, Dr Okupe was guilty in counts 34, 35, 36, and 59.

Reacting to the judgement earlier through its Media Officer, Diran Onifade, the Labour Party Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), confirmed that Okupe has paid N13m fine handed to him by the court.

He said as the party that respects the rule of law, its officials will obey court judgments promptly.

Onifade, however, said appealing the judgment is a personal decision Okupe and that the PCC cannot influence that.

Meanwhile, Okupe, in a tweet after his conviction on Monday, blamed his “enemies” for his legal travails.