A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court has sentenced Hon Farouk Lawan, a former member of the House of Representatives, to seven years imprisonment.
The court also ordered for restitution of the collected sum of $500,000.
The court gave its decision in the case brought before it by the Federal Government against Lawan, a former Chairman of the House of Representatives Ad hoc Committee on Fuel Subsidy in 2012.
Lawan was jailed after being found guilty of soliciting bribe from billionaire businessman, Femi Otedola, during the probe of fuel subsidy in 2012.
He had chaired the ad-hoc committee which probed fuel subsidy under ex-President Goodluck Jonathan.
Otedola had accused Lawan of making a demand of $3 million for Zenon Petroleum and Gas Limited, his company, to be delisted from companies being probed.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission (ICPC), indicted him of collecting $500,000 bribe from Otedola but the lawmaker denied it.
However, Justice Angella Otaluka convicted Lawan on three-count charge on Tuesday.
He was sentenced to seven years for counts one and two while he was sentenced to five years for count three
The sentences are to run concurrently.
While delivering the judgment, Justice Ataluka, stated that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt.
In Suit No. FHC/HC/CR/76/2013, a $3 million bribery charge was filed by the Federal Republic of Nigeria against Farouk Lawan for asking for $3 million and obtaining the sum of $500,000 from Femi Otedola to remove his company from the list of indicted companies before the House of Reps Adhoc committee on fuel subsidy.
Details later…
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