The trial of Farouk Lawan, former chairman of the house of representatives ad hoc committee on fuel subsidy, for allegedly obtaining a bribe of $620,000 from Femi Otedola, chairman of Forte Oil, continues on Tuesday, before Justice Angela Otaluka of a federal capital territory high court, Lugbe.
Both men, who are being tried under the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) Act 2000, are facing a seven-count criminal charge bordering on obtaining $620,000 from Otedola, in order to doctor the committee’s report on fuel subsidy payments in favour of Zenon Oil and Gas Ltd.
First arraigned before Justice Mudashiru Oniyangi on February 2, 2013, their matter was reassigned to Justice Adebukola Banjoko after Oniyangi was elevated to the court of appeal. After an objection again before Justice Banjoko, the case was re-assigned to Justice Otaluka.
The defendants were alleged to have conspired, in April 2012, to demand $3million gratification from Otedola to remove his firm from the list of oil companies indicted for the scam.
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The prosecution team, led by Adegboyega Awomolo had argued before the court, that the offence contravened the provisions of Section 26 (1) (c) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000, and punishable under Section 8 (1) of the same act.
Emenalo was separately accused in Count 7 of receiving $120,000 as gratification from Otedola for the same purpose, an offence which
violates Section 10 (a)(ii) of ICPC Act, 2000 and punishable under Section 10 of the same Act.
Having pleaded not guilty to the charges, Justice Banjoko ordered the accused to continue with the bail conditions granted by Oniyangi.
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