The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has apologized for the arrest of the former DG Peter Obi and Yusuf Datti presidential campaign council, Doyin Okupe.
NewsOnline reports that EFCC said the arrest which was made by the Department of State Services on Thursday (today) was done based on watch list it gave to the secret service on July 18, 2016.
EFCC added that though Doyin had been convicted by a court of competent jurisdiction on the case for which the watch list was issued, it was yet to write the DSS which led to the arrest.
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EFCC in a press release signed by its Media and publicity head, Wilson Uwujaren, read, “the Department of State Services, DSS, today, January 12, informed the Commission of the interception of Dr. Doyin Okupe, former presidential adviser, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.
“The Service acted on a Watch-list request issued on July 18, 2016, over six years before his recent conviction on money laundering charges by the Federal High Court, Abuja.”
“The Commission was in the process of formally lifting the watch-list before his interception and will expedite action in this regard,” EFCC added.
Doyin Okupe had earlier on Thursday on his Twitter account tweeted that he had been arrested by operatives of DSS, at Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, while processing to embark on medical check-up to London.
“I was arrested and detained at the MMIA (Murtala Mohammed International Airport), 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 and Abuja apologized to me for the error.”
Reacting to the drama of the arrest of Doyin and subsequent release, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of deploying the DSS to harass oppositions.
Katch Ononuju, Peter Obi’s personal assistant on public affairs said that Doyin was on official assignment to make arrangements for the former governor of Anambra State’s Chatham House engagement.
Katch Ononuju said, “APC administration now using DSS agents to harass opposition party as DSS agents stop Dr. Doyin Okupe on his way to London as part of the advance party for Peter Obi’s Chatham house Engagement.”
