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Abuja, Nigeria – Former member of the Home of Representatives, Farouk Lawan, has been launched from Kuje Correctional Facility after serving 5 years of a seven-year jail sentence. Lawan, who chaired the Home probe panel on the oil subsidy regime, was convicted for accepting a $3 million bribe from oil tycoon Femi Otedola.
Lawan’s conviction, which was delivered by Justice Angela Otaluka of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Excessive Court docket in Apo, stemmed from fees introduced in opposition to him by the Impartial Corrupt Practices Fee (ICPC). The previous lawmaker was discovered responsible on all three fees associated to bribery and corruption.
Along with his jail sentence, Lawan was ordered to return $500,000 to the federal authorities, representing a part of the bribe he had acquired from Otedola throughout the oil subsidy investigation.
The case, which captured widespread consideration, concerned Lawan’s function within the 2012 probe into gasoline subsidy fraud, throughout which he solicited a bribe from Otedola to have the businessman’s firm faraway from the record of these below investigation. Lawan was arrested, tried, and sentenced in 2021 after a prolonged authorized course of.
His launch on Tuesday morning brings an finish to his time behind bars, although his conviction stays a stark reminder of the corruption challenges Nigeria continues to face.
Lawan’s launch has reignited discussions on accountability and justice in high-profile corruption instances involving public officers. Nonetheless, neither Lawan nor his authorized crew has made any public remark since his launch.
The Federal Authorities is anticipated to implement the refund of the $500,000 as mandated by the court docket.
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