Ibegbu while making a case for Obi also argued that his ex-campaign DG, Okupe will have to exhaust his appeals before Nigerians can reach a guilty verdict
By Kehinde Okeowo
A former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chuks Ibegbu, has argued that the conviction of the Labour Party’s campaign Director-General, Doyin Okupe on Monday for fraud will not affect the chances of the party at the polls next year.
TheNiche had earlier reported that an Abuja Federal High Court sentenced Okupe to two years imprisonment for breaching the money laundering act.
The Labour Party (LP) chieftain was found guilty of 26 out of the 59 count charges preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu who read the sentencing, however, gave an option of N500, 000 fine for each of the counts, amounting to N13 million.
She further ruled that Okupe should be taken to Kuje Correctional Centre to serve his prison term if he fails to meet the option of fine within the time frame.
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Reacting to the judgement, the former spokesperson of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chuks Ibegbu said the sentencing of Okupe will not affect the chances of former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi from becoming Nigeria’s next president.
Speaking to DAILY POST, he said the Labour Party presidential candidate is a “movement” that cannot be stopped, while also adding that his ex-campaign DG will need to exhaust his appeals before we can reach a guilty verdict.
Ibegbu said: “Okupe’s conviction would not affect Peter Obi’s chances. Obi is a hurricane, a tornado, a bandwagon, a pan-Nigerian movement, so Okupe’s conviction will not affect him.
“He is a movement which has shown that Nigerians want to take back their country from the criminals that have held us down for the past years.
“Okupe has the right to appeal, and until he explores all his legal rights, Nigerians can’t conclude whether he’s guilty or not guilty.
“We are waiting for him to exercise his rights; hence we can’t conclude now, but for the hurricane, nothing will stop him because Nigerians want to recover their country from these vagabonds in power that have held us down for the past 50 years.”
