Supreme Court affirms Farouk Lawan’s jail term over $500,000 bribe

In a landmark ruling, the Supreme Court of Nigeria has dismissed an appeal filed by former House of Representatives member Farouk Lawan, affirming his bribery conviction.

Lawan, sentenced to seven years in prison by a Federal Capital Territory High Court, was found guilty of accepting a $500,000 bribe during the 2012 fuel subsidy fraud investigation.

The trial judge held Lawan accountable for demanding $3 million and receiving $500,000 from businessman Femi Otedola. The bribe was allegedly intended to remove Otedola’s company, Zenon Oil and Gas, from the list of firms implicated in the fuel subsidy fraud. While the appellate court reduced Lawan’s sentence to five years, his appeal sought to challenge the convictions at the highest court.

Advertisements

Buy top-quality wigs at incredibly affordable rates from AliExpress (5k to 80k)

1 / 3

2 / 3

3 / 3

3 / 3

3 / 3

Elevate your style without breaking the bank!

In delivering the lead judgment, Justice Tijani Abubakar upheld the decision of the appeal court, dismissing Lawan’s appeal. Notably, Justice Abubakar underscored that the trial court’s failure to call for allocutus did not impact the sentence passed on Lawan. He concluded, “I find no merit in this appeal. It is hereby dismissed by me and affirmed the judgment of the court below, which affirmed the conviction and the sentence of the appellant to five years imprisonment for count three on the charge. The appeal is hereby dismissed.”

Advertisements

• Nigerian Senators Indignant as Akpabio Exposes N2 Million Bribe
• Femi Otedola Becomes University Chancellor, Awards N750 Million in Scholarships
• Tribunal Dismisses Claims of Tinubu’s Drug Conviction
• Femi Otedola Donates N1 Billion to Lagos State Security Trust Fund
• Ukraine war: ‘Large number of Russian soldiers deserting due to low morale’

• Atiku Calls for Transparency: Demands Answers on NNPC’s $3.3 Billion Loan
• Supreme Court Upholds Fubara’s Victory in Rivers State Governorship Election
• Presidency Dismisses Claims of Relocating Federal Capital to Lagos

Lawan’s legal entanglements originated from allegations made by Femi Otedola, who accused the former lawmaker of demanding the bribe to exclude his company from the fuel subsidy fraud list. As a key witness, Otedola asserted that Lawan removed Zenon Petroleum and Gas Limited from the list after receiving the money. The Supreme Court’s decisive ruling solidifies Lawan’s bribery conviction and upholds the prison sentence imposed by the lower courts.

Advertisements

Advertisements