Doyin Okupe confirms he’s been released, says ‘EFCC apologised for the error’

Doyin Okupe, the former director-general of the Labour Party (LP) presidential campaign council, says he was erroneously arrested by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS).

The DSS had said the arrest was made at the instance of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Commenting on the development via Twitter, Okupe said senior officials of the EFCC have apologised for the “error”.

“I was arrested & detained @ the MMIA, Lagos this morning, 12th Jan on my way to UK for medicals; years after my passport had been withheld by the FHC Abuja,” Okupe tweeted.

“I just left the EFCC office where Snr Officers in Lagos & Abuja apologised to me for the error.”

The LP chieftain described the arrest as an “occupational hazard”.

I was arrested & detained @ the MMIA, Lagos this morning, 12th Jan on my way to UK for medicals; years after my passport had been withheld by the FHC Abuja.
I just left the EFCC office where Snr Officers in Lagos & Abuja appologised to me for the error.

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OCCUPATIONAL HAZZARD abi?

— Doyin (@doyinokupe) January 12, 2023

Okupe had recently stepped down as the director-general of the LP presidential campaign following his conviction over money laundering charges.

In a letter addressed to Peter Obi, LP presidential candidate, and dated December 20, 2022, Okupe said he did not want his “personal travails” to become a source of distraction for the campaign.

“In the circumstances, I have opted to step aside and plead that you appoint a new Campaign DG who can continue the assignment with zero distractions,” he had said.

Okupe, who was sentenced to two years imprisonment, was given the option to pay N500,000 fine on each of the counts — totalling N13 million.

He paid the fine shortly after the sentencing.