A former Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Dr. Doyin Okupe, says embattled former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.), gave him N100m on the instruction of Jonathan.
Okupe, who served as Jonathan’s spokesman from 2012 to 2015, added that he received N10m monthly from Dasuki to pay salaries and run a weekly programme on NTA.
The former presidential aide said this in a Facebook post on Sunday while reacting to his arrest and interrogation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
The EFCC had alleged that Okupe received N85m from Dasuki at different times.
In his reaction, Okupe said, “The initial N50m was approved by the President to be paid to me from his security vote. N10m was to furnish my rented living apartment and another N10m for my office. The balance N30m was approved as take-off grant.
“The N10m I received from the ONSA monthly was to run my office, pay salaries of staff, including overheads, pay expenses for our numerous press conferences, pay for publications in newspapers, magazines, local and foreign, television programmes, bulletins, and media consultants who assist and facilitate our work. I had about 23 staff, 11 were graduates out of which five were master’s degree holders.
“The second N50m was approved again by Mr. President when I reported to him that the monthly allowance had been cut from N10m to N5m and that I was no longer in position to keep running a one-hour NTA network programme called INSIGHT which was aired 9-10am every Friday.
“We paid NTA about N1.2m monthly for airtime. Two presenters were paid N600,000 monthly. We paid for tapes and editing per programme. Besides we also pay honorarium for guests either directly or in form of hotel bills for those outside Abuja, or transportation.
“This cost averagely N500,000 weekly or about N2m monthly. All in all we spend about N4m monthly on the programme. Mr. President promised to help with the expenses. About a few months later when we had incurred some debts the NSA sent me this N50m which was to cover the cost of the programme for 12 months.”
Okupe, who was also quizzed for allegedly receiving some dubious contracts from a local council in Niger State to the tune of N76.5m, said his company, Romix soilfix, was one of the over 20 construction companies who were duly awarded contracts for rural roads some five years ago by the Niger State Government.
He explained that due to lack of funds, contractors were paid irregularly making the job to drag.
“The job is still ongoing. The relationship of this to my service as senior special assistant to President is still not clear,” Okupe said.
The former presidential aide criticised the EFCC for allegedly releasing details about his health.
Okupe confirmed that he suffered a heart problem and he only explained this to investigators to prevent him from being detained.
He added, “I was born with sinus bradycadia, a non-disease based slowness of the heart. It precluded me from vigorous exercise from childhood but I have by God’s grace been able to live a normal and active life.
“With age the slowness grew worse and life threatening. I sought medical help and went through a procedure at the Arrhythmia Cardiac Research Centre in Atlanta, where this defect was corrected. It was just a year ago and I am still under satellite monitor from the USA. This is what I revealed to the EFCC and they made it a public issue.”
Okupe maintained that he was not a thief, adding that he had only two houses: one in Lagos and in his hometown. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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Good response. The truth is that the money they spent is not money for arms, it is Jonathan Security vote.
ReplyDeleteSee how you reasons. What truth?
Delete...and he didn't say this all these while. who's fooling who?
Delete^^^to the previous commenter: Is it not clear yet to you that it is the efcc that are fooling you and I?
DeleteNo time is late for ds wonderful breakdown of facts and figure.
Delete10MiLLion to furnish ur appartment?....hian!
ReplyDeleteLol. My thought is as good as yours. To furnish an apartment with 10 million, money that can feed a community.
Delete10 million shock you? PRAY TO GOD MAKE YOU GET MONEY.
Delete10million to furnish a reneted apartment. Yet you have a house in Lagos and your hometown. So why then are you renting another apartment. By the way what are your buying with 10million? Anyways. You all are thieves including the President and all political office holders. Presidency spent 250million to build a 3 bedroom apartment for VP. Spending about 2million for church and a mosque. What about the 35million allocated to state clinic yet the old man still travel to London to treat ear problem. Okupe change your party and am sure you will be pardon and your case wipe out. That just the way it is. Things can never be the same again.
Delete10million to furnish a reneted apartment. Yet you have a house in Lagos and your hometown. So why then are you renting another apartment. By the way what are your buying with 10million? Anyways. You all are thieves including the President and all political office holders. Presidency spent 250million to build a 3 bedroom apartment for VP. Spending about 2million for church and a mosque. What about the 35million allocated to state clinic yet the old man still travel to London to treat ear problem. Okupe change your party and am sure you will be pardon and your case wipe out. That just the way it is. Things can never be the same again.
DeleteWhy are you explaining to bus now? We cannot discharge and acquit you. Explain to the courts pls and spare us the excuses.
ReplyDeletePls spare us the noise. Go tell that to the courts. We can't do nothing for you. Carry your cross bro.
ReplyDeleteokupe na wao!
ReplyDeleteThat is why Nigeria can not afford a new Train.
ReplyDelete