A Nigerian physician, politician, and former presidential aide, Dr. Doyin Okupe, died at the age of 72 during surgery in Lagos.
According to family sources, Okupe, who had been in Abuja, returned to Lagos less than a week ago for a surgical procedure at a hospital on Lagos Island.
Tragically, he did not survive the operation.
“He was in Abuja and returned to Lagos a few days ago, in fact, less than a week ago. He went for a surgery at a hospital on the Lagos Island but he didn’t survive the surgery.
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“He had been on medication for more than 40 years, taking different drugs religiously for various types of ailments including prostate cancer. He was also dealing with weight issues,” one of the sources said.
SaharaReporters previously reported that in October 2023 that Okupe was hospitalised with prostate cancer and was flown to Israel for treatment.
However, it was learnt that his condition did not improve as he and his family expected.
Okupe was first diagnosed with prostate cancer 16 years ago and later developed sarcoma in his right shoulder.
Early Life and Education
Born in Iperu, Ogun State, Okupe was the son of Chief Matthew Adekoya Okupe, a banker with Agbonmagbe Bank.
He pursued his early education at St. Jude’s School in Ebute Metta, Lagos, and Igbobi College in Yaba, Lagos. He later attended the University of Ibadan in Oyo State, where he earned his medical degree.
Okupe co-founded the Royal Cross Medical Centre in Obalende, Lagos, alongside his colleagues Dr. Seyi Roberts and Dr. Ladi Okuboyejo.
He served as the Managing Director of the center, contributing significantly to healthcare delivery in the region.
Political Career
Transitioning into politics, Okupe became the National Publicity Secretary of the National Republican Convention (NRC) during the Third Nigerian Republic.
He was appointed Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to President Olusegun Obasanjo and later served as Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs to President Goodluck Jonathan.
In 2022, he briefly held the position of vice-presidential candidate for the Labour Party before stepping down. He was later made the Director-General of the Labour Party’s Presidential Campaign Organisation.
In January 2024, Okupe resigned from the party, citing ideological differences.
He explained that, having been a rightist and liberal democrat throughout his life, he found it challenging to remain in a party ideologically rooted in the left of the centre.
Okupe also referred to the Labour Party as a “Special Purpose Vehicle” utilised for contesting the 2023 presidential elections after abruptly leaving the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
In December 2022, Okupe was convicted for violating the Money Laundering Act by receiving over N200 million in cash from the former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd).
The law stipulates that individuals must not accept cash payments exceeding N5 million without processing them through a financial institution. Okupe received multiple payments of N10 million between 2012 and 2015, which he claimed were for running his office and managing public relations for the administration.
The Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu, sentenced Okupe to two years imprisonment on each of the 26 counts, to run concurrently.
However, the court provided an option of a N500,000 fine for each count, totalling N13 million. Okupe paid this fine promptly, thereby avoiding incarceration.
Okupe’s immediate payment of the fine allowed him to continue his activities without serving a prison sentence.
Okupe was married to Aduralere Okupe, and they had children together, including Ditan and Bolu. In April 2020, he and his wife tested positive for COVID-19 but subsequently recovered.
In January 2021, his son Bolu publicly came out as gay, a revelation that garnered significant media attention.
Health Challenges and Death
Okupe faced several health challenges in his later years. He was first diagnosed with prostate cancer 16 years prior to his death, as reported by SaharaReporters.
