BREAKING: Supreme Court Delivers Judgement in Former Reps Member, Lawan’s Bribe Allegation Case

• The Supreme Court has affirmed a five-year jail term for a former federal lawmaker, Farouk Lawan, who was convicted of receiving a $500,000 bribe in 2012 during a legislative probe into the fuel subsidy regime
• Upholding the ex-house of representative’s conviction, a five-member panel of the court in its unanimous judgement, dismissed his appeal challenging the decision of the Court of Appeal which had also affirmed his conviction by the trial court
• In the lead judgement prepared by John Okoro but read by Tijjani Abubakar on Friday, the Supreme Court held that Lawan’s appeal lacked merit

Legit.ng journalist Ridwan Adeola Yusuf has 9-year experience covering public journalism

FCT, Abuja - The Supreme Court has affirmed the five-year jail term handed to a former member of the house of representatives, Farouk Lawan, by the Court of Appeal.

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Lawan was convicted and sentenced to prison in 2021 for accepting a $500,000 bribe from prominent businessman, Femi Otedola, the chairman of Zenon Petroleum and Gas Limited.

As reported by The Nation, in a unanimous judgement on Friday, January 26, a five-member panel affirmed the past judgement of the appellate court which upheld Lawan’s sentencing to five years concerning the charges on which he (Lawan) was tried at the federal capital territory (FCT) high court.

In the lead judgement prepared by Justice John Okoro but read by Justice Tijjani Abubakar, the apex court found that Lawan’s appeal was without merit and proceeded to dismiss it.

Channels Television also noted the Supreme Court's verdict.

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Legit.ng reports that Lawan is now in his third of the five years he is to serve in jail, starting from June 2021 when he was sentenced by the trial court.

What to read about Farouk Lawan:

• AUDIO: The $3m conversation between Farouk Lawan and Femi Otedola
• Subsidy bribe: Pressure on police to charge Otedola with Farouk Lawan
• Farouk Lawan arrives Kuje prison over bribery allegation

Farouk Lawan sentenced to 7 years in prison

Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Lawan, a former chairman of the house of representatives ad-hoc committee on petroleum subsidy, was sentenced to seven years in prison.

The FCT high court issued the verdict, asking the politician to return the $500,000 to the FG.

Source: Legit.ng