The Department of State Service has revealed why the immediate-past Director-General of the Labour Party presidential campaign council, Dr. Doyin Okupe, was arrested.Why
Premium Politics on Thursday reported that the LP chieftain was arrested at the Muritala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos State, while on his way to London for a medical trip.
Okupe’s arrest was also confirmed by one of his lawyers, Tolu Babaleye, coming weeks after he was forced to step down as Peter Obi’s DG after he was convicted for breaching the Money Laundering Act by a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.
This publication reported that Okupe who was convicted on December 19, 2022, was subsequently sentenced to two and a half years in prison or pay a fine of N13 million.
Explaining the reason for the arrest, the Public Relations Officer for DSS, Dr Peter Afunanya, said the Okupe was arrested after his attempt to leave the country for London.
“Doyin Okupe was intercepted by DSS at Terminal 1 of Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos this morning at the instance of the EFCC,” Afunanya said in a text message sent to The PUNCH enquiring about his (Okupe) arrest.
“He has long been handed over to the commission which requested the action. Okupe was billed to fly to London via Virgin Atlantic,” he added.
Meanwhile, Babaleye faulted Okupe’s arrest, labelling it a violation of his freedom of movement.
“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 it is a violation of his freedom of movement, right to liberty and dignity of human person. This is unfair as the man health is fast failing!”.
