Ex-Reps member Farouk Lawan regains freedom after 5 years in prison

A former member of the House of Representatives, Farouk Lawan, has regained freedom from Kuje Custodial Centre in Abuja after serving a five-year jail term for taking a $300,000 bribe from billionaire businessman Femi Otedola.

Lawan regained freedom from the prison on Tuesday, October 22, 2024.

Speaking on his release via a statement on Tuesday, the former lawmaker said he was in good health and excited to be with his family members, friends, and associates.

He stated: “Today marks the beginning of a new chapter in my life as I step out of Kuje Custodial Centre, with a heart full of gratitude to Allah SWT for seeing me through this trial.

“My gratitude is deep, I’m alive and in good health and high spirits to be with my family, friends, and associates. I don’t take that for granted.

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“I remain grateful and indebted to my family and friends who stood by me through this particularly trying phase of my life.”

It would be recalled that Lawan, who was the chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Fuel Subsidy, was sentenced to prison for seeking $300,000 bribe from Otedola while probing the multi-billion naira fuel subsidy fraud in 2012.

The Court of Appeal in Abuja, in 2021, sentenced Farouk Lawan to a five-year jail term and discharged him on two out of the three counts on the corruption charge brought against him by the federal government.

He was also ordered to refund $500,000 to the federal government.

Lawan, however, appealed the verdict at the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court, in its judgement delivered in January 2024, upheld the verdict, saying Lawan’s appeal lacked merit.

The Star