$500k Fuel Subsidy Bribe: Farouk Lawan regains freedom

A former member of the House of Representatives, Farouk Lawan has regained his freedom after serving his jail term at the Kuje Custodial Centre. Spokesman of the Federal Capital Territory FCT Command of the Nigeria Correctional Service NCoS, Adamu Duza confirmed the development. “Yes, he has been released having served his sentence”, he said on phone. In a statement, Lawan thanked God for his release which he said marks the beginning of a new chapter in his life. He said; “I Thank Almighty Allah. Alhamdulillah. Alhamdulillah.  Alhamdulillah.

“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. My gratitude is deep, I’m alive and in good health and high spirits to be with my family, friends and associates. I don’t take that for granted.  “I remain grateful and indebted to my family and friends who stood by me through this particularly trying phase of my life. May Allah bless you”. Before his predicament, Lawan, was one of the most influential lawmakers in the National Assembly and a kingmaker of some sorts as he was practically involved in the emergence of all Speakers of the House before 2015. The former Peoples Democratic Party PDP lawmaker who was chairman of the “Integrity Group” in the House which masterminded the the impeachment of the then speaker, Patricia Etteh, was elected to the Lower Chambers four times in 1999, 2003, 2007 and again in 2011. In the wake of fuel subsidy removal in January 2012 which kee to nationwide protests and strikes, Lawan chaired a Parliamentary inquisition into the subsidy regime which repeatedly had an estimated scam of $6.8 billion.

In February 2013, Lawan was accused of demanding $3 million from Otedola to remove Zenon from the list of oil companies allegedly involved in the petrol subsidy scam which rocked the nation some years ago. He was later convicted for soliciting and accepting a $500,000 bribe from businessman Femi Otedola, Chairman, Zenon Petroleum and Gas Ltd. However, it was not until June 2021 that Lawan was and sentenced to seven years in prison. The appellate court however reduced his sentence to five years, a decision which was affirmed by the Supreme Court in January 2024. The former federal lawmaker represented the Bagwai/Shanono constituency of Kano state in the House of Representatives.