Dr Doyin Okupe, former Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, who was recently quizzed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), over the several millions he received from Sambo Dasuki, former National Security Adviser, who is currently being prosecuted for allegedly mismanaging $2.1 billion, said he was interrogated on issues by the anti-graft agency.

Okupe, who spoke in a press statement on Sunday, said he decided to issue the statement in response to certain publications contained in some national dailies about “my recent summons by the Economic and Financial Crimes commission.”

He said was asked to explain only three issues: “Why I received N50 million from the office of the National Security Adviser at the onset of my appointment, and what I used the money for , Why I was paid N10 million monthly by the Office of the National Security Adviser and

Why I received another sum of N50 million from the NSA in October 2014.”

His explanations were that the initial N50million was approved by the President to be paid to him from His Security vote, while N10 million was to furnish his rented living apartment and another N10 million for his office. The balance N30 million was approved as take off grant for his office.

Okupe said the N10 million he received from the Office of the National Security Adviser 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 programs, bulletins, and media consultants who assist and facilitate our work. I had about 23 staff, 11 were graduates out of which 5 were Masters degrees holders. Details, he said, were submitted to EFCC.

According to him, “the second N50million was approved again by Mr. President when I reported to him that the monthly allowance has been cut from N10 million to N5 million and that I was no longer in a position to keep running a 1hr NTA network programme called INSIGHT which was aired 9-10am every Friday and some other days of the week. We paid NTA about N1.2 million monthly for airtime. Two presenters were paid N600,000 monthly.”

“We paid for tapes and editing per program. Besides we also pay honorarium for guests either directly or inform of hotel bills for those outside Abuja, or transportation. This cost averagely N500,000 weekly or about N2 million monthly. All in all we spent about N4 million 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 a sum of N50million, which was to cover the cost of the programme for 12 months (12×N4 million=N48 million).

“I saw strange figures like N 162 million fraud, N85 million fraud in the Media. Also mention was made of some alleged dubious payments of N13 million and N65 million from contracts supposedly obtained from Chachanga LGA in Niger state.

“The Fact however is that my company Romix Soilfix was one of the over 20 construction companies who were duly awarded contracts for rural roads some 5yrs ago by the Niger state govt. Due to lack of funds, contractors were paid irregularly thus making the job to drag on for long. The job is still ongoing. The relationship of this to my service as Senior Special assistant to President is still not clear,” said the former presidential aide.

Okupe said he confided in the officers of the EFCC about his health situation “for them to understand why where and how I sleep was important to my overall well being.”

According to him, “without clearance or authorisation by me this information was revealed to the media. I woke up to hear it on radio broadcast nationwide and was published in many newspapers. This is a sad development and a definite breach of the confidence I reposed on the commission as an institution of government.”

“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 Center in Atlanta, where this defect was corrected. It’s 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.

“I have been in public service in more than 20years. Because of my pedigree, I have by deliberate policy avoided anything that will bring shame to me and my family.”

Okupe said in spite of his high level involvement in politics and government, he has never done directly or indirectly any Federal Government contracts, adding: “In the whole of this world, I have only two houses; one in Lagos and another in my home town. I have no house elsewhere including Abuja.”

“It is a pity that the situation in the country is so bad that everybody believes that there are no men with honour in politics or government.

It is not true. I have submitted all my personal and company accounts to the EFCC. I have nothing to hide.

“I am proud of whom I am and how far the Lord has taken me. My present travails and trial will become a good testimony for me and my family in Jesus Name.” (independent)

•Photo shows Doyin Okupe.

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