Farouk Lawan, a former member of Nigeria’s House of Representatives, has been released from the Kuje Custodial Centre in Abuja after completing a five-year sentence for bribery. Lawan, who was previously the chairman of the House ad-hoc committee that investigated the multi-billion naira petrol subsidy fraud in 2012, walked out of prison on Tuesday, marking the end of his high-profile legal battle.
Lawan’s legal troubles began in 2012 when he was accused of accepting a $500,000 bribe from businessman Femi Otedola. At that time, Lawan’s committee was scrutinizing oil companies implicated in a massive fuel subsidy fraud. He solicited a $3 million bribe from Otedola in exchange for removing Zenon Petroleum and Gas Limited, Otedola’s former company, from a list of firms indicted in the subsidy scandal.
Video evidence played a key role in Lawan’s conviction. The footage, which circulated widely, showed Lawan accepting bundles of cash and tucking them into his traditional Babbanriga attire and underneath his cap. The evidence of this exchange proved to be damning, leading to his eventual sentencing.
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In 2021, Lawan was found guilty on three counts of bribery and initially sentenced to seven years in prison by Justice Angela Otaluka of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Apo. However, the Court of Appeal in February 2022 overturned two of the three counts, reducing his sentence to five years. Despite further appeals, the Supreme Court upheld his conviction on the remaining charge in January 2024.
After his release, Lawan issued a statement expressing his gratitude for the support he received during his time in prison.
“Today marks the beginning of a new chapter in my life as I step out of Kuje Custodial Centre, with a heart full of gratitude to Allah SWT for seeing me through this trial,” he said.
He extended his thanks to his family and friends, adding, “I remain grateful and indebted to my family and friends who stood by me through this particularly trying phase of my life.”
The case against Lawan, one of the most high-profile corruption cases in Nigeria, highlighted the deep-seated issues surrounding the management of the nation’s oil subsidies. His conviction served as a reminder of the challenges the country faces in combating corruption within its public institutions.