Nigerian lawmaker Farouk Lawan freed from prison after serving term for bribery
Farouk Lawan, a former member of the House of Representatives in Nigeria, has regained his freedom after completing a five-year prison sentence.
His conviction was related to a bribery case that emerged during his tenure as chairman of the House ad-hoc committee investigating fuel subsidy fraud in 2012.
Lawan was found guilty of soliciting a $3 million bribe from Femi Otedola, a prominent Nigerian billionaire and oil tycoon.
READ ALSO:Â Former Lawmaker, Farouk Lawan, Bags 7-Year Jail Term For Bribery
The bribe was intended to remove Otedola’s company, Zenon Oil and Gas, from a list of firms implicated in fraudulent activities concerning the fuel subsidy program. The scandal highlighted significant corruption within Nigeria’s government and sparked widespread public outrage.
Initially sentenced to seven years in prison by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja in June 2021, Lawan’s sentence was later reduced to five years by the Court of Appeal in February 2022. He was acquitted on two out of three counts related to the corruption charges but remained convicted on one count involving the acceptance of a $500,000 bribe.
The Supreme Court upheld this conviction on January 26, 2024, dismissing Lawan’s final appeal and affirming the lower court’s decisions. Following this ruling, he served his full sentence at Kuje Custodial Centre.
Lawan was released from custody on October 22, 2024. Upon his release, he expressed gratitude for surviving the challenging period and thanked his family and friends for their support throughout his incarceration. In a statement reflecting on his experience, he emphasized his relief at being alive and healthy as he rejoined society.
