It will be recalled that Okupe was convicted of violating the Money Laundering Act by receiving cash in excess of the law’s provision from the office of the former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, while he was in office.

The presiding judge, Ijeoma Ojukwu, however, gave him the option of paying a fine of N500,000 for each of the 26 counts he was found guilty, making a total of N13 million instead of going to jail.

The former presidential aide paid the fine imposed on him by the court and escaped jail time.

Speaking in an interview on Arise News on Monday evening, Okupe said the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) discharged him of all 34 charges.

The chieftain of the Labour Party (LP) said he was only convicted of money laundering but was never convicted of corruption.

He said: “What I was convicted of was money laundering which was not corruption. I was being funded under Mr President’s directive.”

Speaking on the crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Okupe said the party ignored the sentiments of giving the presidency to the South, which led to internal wranglings.

He said: “It was the time for a Southern president. It was unacceptable for the PDP to nominate a northerner.“