Alleged bribery: Otedola’s ill health stalls Farouk Lawan’s trial

The trial of a former lawmaker, Farouk Lawal before an FCT High
Court in Apo has suffered a setback due to the ill-health of the
Chairman/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Zenon Petroleum and Gas
Limited, Femi Otedola, who is serving as a prosecution witness.

Lawan, who was the chairman of the House of Representatives’
adhoc committee on Petroleum Subsidy Regime, is being tried before
the court by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related
Offences Commission (ICPC), for allegedly demanding $3 million for
himself from Otedola.

He was alleged to have collected $500,000 out of the amount with
a view to removing Otedola companies’ names from the list of firms
indicted by the ad-hoc committee for allegedly abusing the fuel
subsidy regime in 2012.

At the resumed hearing on Tuesday, the prosecution counsel,
Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN) told the court that Otedola was not
in court due to the fact that he was sick.

He then tendered a medical report notifying the court of
Otedola’s medical status.

Awomolo said the matter had been adjourned for further
cross-examination of the witness.

Without objection from the defence counsel, the trial judge,
Justice Angela Otaluka adjourned the case till June 10 and 11 for
continuation of hearing.

At the last hearing of the case on January 28, Otedola told the
court that he gave the $500,000 bribe to Lawan in two tranches of
$250,000. He added that the SSS had informed him that they
recovered the call logs between him and other parties in the
matter.

However, while being cross examined by Lawan’s counsel, Chief
Mike Ozekhome (SAN), Otedola said his only written communication
with the SSS was the petition he wrote to the agency. He added that
he was interrogated verbally by the SSS and did not make a written
statement, besides his petition.

He also said his companies, Zenon Oil and Forte Oil were not in
the list of companies investigated by Lawan’s committee.

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