Okupe: Court Fines EFCC For Seeking Adjournment

A former senior special assistant to ex- president Goodluck Jonathan, Doyin Okupe, opened his defense against the federal government on Monday, at the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had arraigned Okupe, Abrahams Telecoms Limited and one other, over an alleged money laundering and diversion of about 702 million naira while working with the then president.

But the first defendant had pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The prosecution’s lawyer, Ibrahim Audu asked the court to grant another date for the hearing but the defendant’s lawyer, Akinlabi Akinlade, objected to the request.

The defendant’s counsel said that the prosecution had enough time to look at their application.

Justice Ojukwu fined the prosecution the sum of 50,000 adding that seeking for adjournment is “frivolous”.

Standing in defence was Oladayo Odunlami, the then confidential secretary and office assistant to the former president’s media aide.

She claimed that she was in charge of recruitments and payments of staff numbering over twenty seven; adding that all the funds came from the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA).

She added that her office organized press briefings and engaged foreign consultants as well as made payments to them.

She also claimed that the letters of introduction of staff, payments as well as bank drafts originated from her and were genuine.

“Virtually all the money that passed through the office passed through me, somehow,” she said.

Counsel to the first defendant, presented the documents to the prosecution and judge for cross checks.

The prosecution objected to all the documents adding that the witness was not the author and maker of the documents.

“My lord, this document does not pass the admissibility check,” Ibrahim said while adding that the judge should reject the documents.

Justice Ojukwu admitted all the documents but said that some of the documents were not original.

She also warned that documents could work against the defendant at the long run.

But the prosecution said that the witness brought by the defendant was “blatantly telling lies.”

“I put it to you that you are not the person you claim to be and you were never employed by the first defendant,” prosecution said to the witness

The witness was later discharged while the defendant asked for another date to bring in more witness.

Justice Ojukwu adjourned the hearing to March 6.