Haunted By His Past, Okupe May Hire Keyamo To Defend Him


These are not the best of times for Doyin Okupe, a medical doctor recently hired by President Goodluck Jonathan to step into the role of presidential “attack dog.” Since his appointment, Mr. Okupe has faced a barrage of criticism over his involvement in several contract scams. At least two state governments, Imo and Benue, have accused the new presidential aide of failing to execute contracts that were awarded to his company.

The criticisms have taken a toll on Mr. Okupe’s integrity, calling his suitability to be a public official to question.

“It’s honestly embarrassing that the Presidency would appoint somebody like Dr. Okupe as a special assistant to the President on public communications without vetting his credentials and examining his past,” said a vocal civic rights advocate based in Abuja.

Mr. Okupe, who once served as spokesperson for former President Olusegun Obasanjo, is accused of bolting away with N634m worth of contract in Benue State when George Akume was the governor of the state. The Benue State Commissioner of Works and Transport, Benjamin Ashaver, has said that the state has reported Mr. Okupe to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for recovery of the mobilization fees paid to Okupe’s company for work that was never done.

Last Sunday, the embattled Mr. Okupe hosted several bureau chiefs of media houses in his hotel room at Hilton Hotel, Abuja. A source familiar with the meeting told SaharaReporters that the presidential aide told the reporters that he wanted their cooperation in the midst of widespread attacks questioning his integrity.

The source revealed that Mr. Okupe was visibly rattled when one reporter asked him to explain what he knew about the contract. “Having carefully selected those who were invited to the parley, Dr. Okupe did not expect the question and showed that he was taken aback,” said our source. Mr. Okupe merely said he had hired a Lagos-based legal practitioner, Festus Keyamo, to issue a statement on the matter. He stated that Mr. Keyamo’s statement would be released by Monday.

“My lawyer, Festus Keyamo, will speak on the matter, please. For now, let me face my job,” he told the reporters.

However, a source in the Benue State government told SaharaReporters that Mr. Okupe has no credible defense for taking the state’s funds and then absconding. “If he’s claiming that Keyamo is going to issue a statement, he is merely begging for time, hoping that Nigerians will soon forget about the matter,” the source asserted.

http://saharareporters.com/news-page/haunted-his-past-okupe-may-hire-keyamo-defend-him

If its true that Keyamo is defending Mr Okupe, then he's also a thief, lets forget the fact that he's a lawyer, if we look at what he stands for, when it comes to gov't spendings, then he should not be the one defending Mr Okupe...

Didn't I say in another thread that he needs a good lawyer to share his 'armed robber' salary with. Keyamo doesn't come cheap. Man must wack! Work dey for Keyamo shaa. It won't be easy.

his mouth not wided enough to defending himself? non.sense

I will surely loose my respect for Festus Keyamo if he defends that criminal

Welcome to Nigeria, the petroleum driven economy that mints Billionaires out of government contracts....

Doyin okupe is a thief,i don't blame him,i blame his employer cos his employer that is mostly on the bad books of nigerians is adding more to his plate.#God is watching them all on 3D

this Okupe guy should tender his resignation letter na!! The guy na DOA, e neva even start work, scandals and his past is already hunting after him. If u're innocent then slug it out in court otherwise Abeg free us make we tackle pressing issues wey dey gredge us

He should resign and face his fraudulent past.

The attack lion become the attacked. . The God is wonderful.

It is amazing that president Goodluck hasn't terminated this man's appointment. I struggle to find words to describe this. A man was awarded contracts in 2004, and it comes to light in 2012 that he didn't execute the job and he still remains a spokesperson for him! Now he is saying he wants to refund the monies. Just like that? Haba! Jonathan just seems to have an endless supply of obviously corrupt people: the customs boss Dikko with forged credentials, the minister of petroleum resources Dieziani who spent over 200 Billion Naira on Kerosene subsidy without appropriation, and there is Oteh...that one is even strange and inexplicable . The secretary to the FG in the letter he wrote to re-instate her after it was obvious she had bribed federal lawmakers and mismanaged public funds, grudginly admitted that she was incompetent...i can go on, the list is so long. I pray that pastor Bakare's prophecy comes true that there will be an election before 2015. This utterly cluesless and stinkingly corrupt administration needs to be changed.

From attack dog to an attack lion now what is he now an attack tortoise.

we are watchdog all the drama

gbanikiti: I will surely loose my respect for Festus Keyamo if he defends that criminal

innocent until proven guilty!
Dont like okupe tho,but the law supercedes my opinions

Why do we easily conclude in Naija?
Let's wait and see the accusers from Benue come out clean too. If Okupe from Ogun state chop N634m, the governor go don chop N634b....what a sick country.

haven't heard about Keyamo wining any case he handled, so whats so special about him?

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't keyamo represent the EFCC?...

Does Keyamo even win cases? Abeg let both of them go and take chair jare.

why did Gej hire a thief 2 mouth-fire for him,if u live in glass house dont throw stone okupe yu tink yu hav a loaded canon critics have weapon of mouth destruction(W.M.D)

bigmaut: why did Gej hire a thief 2 mouth-fire for him,if u live in glass house dont throw stone okupe yu tink yu hav a loaded canon critics have weapon of mouth destruction(W.M.D)

Probably because he is also a thief.