The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has said that the Department of State Services (DSS) acted on an old watchlist in its interception of former presidential adviser, Dr Doyin Okupe.
The EFCC stated this in a terse statement obtained by this newspaper.
Recall that the DSS confirmed early Thursday that it intercepted Okupe at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos on his way to London, while acting on an EFCC request.
The secret police said that the medical doctor-turned-politician was handed over to the EFCC.
But in a tweet a few hours later, Okupe confirmed his release by the EFCC in Lagos.
He said he was released after an apology from senior officials of the commission at the Lagos Zonal Command and the Abuja headquarters.
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.
OCCUPATIONAL HAZZARD abi?
— Doyin (@doyinokupe) January 12, 2023
In its statement, the EFCC explained, “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.”
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