A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court sitting in Apo, Abuja, has sentenced a former member of the House of Representatives, Farouk Lawan, to seven years imprisonment over the $3 million bribery charges preferred against him by the Federal Government.
Lawan was the former chairman of the House’s Ad-hoc Committee on fuel subsidy, which was 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 a $500,000 bribe from Otedola. The charge was later amended to three counts.
Otedola, while giving evidence as 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 Department of State Services, (DSS) and was given $500,000 in marked notes. Also, the DSS had planted a camera in Otedola’s house.
