Ex-lawmaker Farouk Lawan released from Kuje prison after serving jail term

Farouk Lawan, a former member of the house of representatives, has been released from prison after serving his five-year jail term over bribery.

Lawan left the Kuje Custodial Centre in Abuja, the nation’s capital, on Tuesday.

He was the chairman of the house of representatives ad hoc committee probing the multi-billion naira petrol subsidy fraud in 2012.

He was convicted and sentenced to prison in 2021 for accepting a $500,000 bribe from Femi Otedola, then chairman of Zenon Petroleum and Gas Limited — in what was a sting operation from the businessman.

“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,” Lawan said in a statement.

“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.

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

BACKGROUND

Lawan, who represented the Bagwai/Shanono constituency of Kano state in the house of representatives, was accused of demanding $3 million from Otedola to remove Zenon Petroleum and Gas Limited (Otedola’s former company) from the list of oil companies allegedly involved in the petrol subsidy scam.

Video clips had made the round on social media at the time, showing Lawan stuffing wads of currency notes in his traditional outfit and underneath his cap.

He was arraigned on seven counts of bribery by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

On June 22, 2021, Angela Otaluka, judge of a federal capital territory high court in Apo, convicted Lawan on all three counts and sentenced him to seven years in prison.

In February 2022, a court of appeal discharged and acquitted the former lawmaker on two of the three counts on which he was convicted.

The appellate court affirmed his conviction on one count.

The jail term was also reduced to five years from seven years.

In January 2024, the supreme court affirmed Lawan’s conviction and upheld the verdict of the court of appeal.