[JUST IN] Court Sentences Farouk Lawan To 7 Years In Prison Over $3m Bribe

A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Apo,
Abuja has convicted former member of House of Representatives from
Kano State, Farouk Lawan for receiving $500,000 bribe from a
businessman, Femi Otedola.

Justice Angella Otaluka convicted Lawan on the three-count
charge on which he was tried by the Independent Corrupt Practices
and other related offences Commission (ICPC).

The judge sentenced him to seven years imprisonment in respect
of counts one and two and five years on count three.

The judge declared that there were elements of corruption in
Farouk Lawan’s conduct as the chairman of then-House of
Representatives ad-hoc committee investigating the fraud around
fuel subsidy regime.

Angela Otaluka, the trial judge, arrived at this finding while
delivering judgment in the trial of Mr Lawan on bribery charges on
Tuesday.

While evaluating evidence in her judgement on Tuesday, the trial
judge, Ms Otaluka, noted that from the pool of evidence before the
court, the prosecuting lawyer, Adegboyega Awomolo, had established
a case of corrupt practices against the defendant in Count One of
the charge that borders on corruptly requesting for a bribe of
three million dollars.

The former lawmaker is being prosecuted on charges of or
receiving a bribe of $500,000 from Femi Otedola, a billionaire oil
magnate. The money was part of the $3milllion Mr Lawan requested to
have the businessman’s firms removed from the list of companies
indicted for fuel subsidy fraud.

Lawan was the chairman of the house of representatives ad hoc
committee probing the multi-billion naira fuel subsidy fraud in
2012.

He was accused of demanding $3 million from Femi Otedola to
remove Zenon Petroleum and Gas Limited (Otedola’s company) from the
list of oil companies allegedly involved in the fuel subsidy fraud
in 2012.

Lawan, who was arraigned on seven counts of bribery by the
Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), was alleged to
have collected $500,000 bribe from Otedola.

The charge was later amended to three counts.

Otedola, while giving evidence as to the fifth prosecution
witness, said the defendant had demanded $3 million from him with a
threat to indict his company.

The businessman said he proceeded to report the issue to the DSS
and was given $500,000 in marked notes. Also, the DSS had planted a
camera in Otedola’s house.

A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Apo,
Abuja has convicted former member of House of Representatives from
Kano State, Farouk Lawan for receiving $500,000 bribe from a
businessman, Femi Otedola.

Justice Angella Otaluka convicted Lawan on the three-count
charge on which he was tried by the Independent Corrupt Practices
and other related offences Commission (ICPC).

The judge sentenced him to seven years imprisonment in respect
of counts one and two and five years on count three.

The judge declared that there were elements of corruption in
Farouk Lawan’s conduct as the chairman of then-House of
Representatives ad-hoc committee investigating the fraud around
fuel subsidy regime.

Angela Otaluka, the trial judge, arrived at this finding while
delivering judgment in the trial of Mr Lawan on bribery charges on
Tuesday.

While evaluating evidence in her judgement on Tuesday, the trial
judge, Ms Otaluka, noted that from the pool of evidence before the
court, the prosecuting lawyer, Adegboyega Awomolo, had established
a case of corrupt practices against the defendant in Count One of
the charge that borders on corruptly requesting for a bribe of
three million dollars.

The former lawmaker is being prosecuted on charges of or
receiving a bribe of $500,000 from Femi Otedola, a billionaire oil
magnate. The money was part of the $3milllion Mr Lawan requested to
have the businessman’s firms removed from the list of companies
indicted for fuel subsidy fraud.

Lawan was the chairman of the house of representatives ad hoc
committee probing the multi-billion naira fuel subsidy fraud in
2012.

He was accused of demanding $3 million from Femi Otedola to
remove Zenon Petroleum and Gas Limited (Otedola’s company) from the
list of oil companies allegedly involved in the fuel subsidy fraud
in 2012.

Lawan, who was arraigned on seven counts of bribery by the
Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), was alleged to
have collected $500,000 bribe from Otedola.

The charge was later amended to three counts.

Otedola, while giving evidence as to the fifth prosecution
witness, said the defendant had demanded $3 million from him with a
threat to indict his company.

The businessman said he proceeded to report the issue to the DSS
and was given $500,000 in marked notes. Also, the DSS had planted a
camera in Otedola’s house.