$3million bribery: Police release Farouk Lawan

The former chairman of the House of Representatives ad hoc Committee on the managemnet of fuel subsidy, Farouk Lawan, has been released on bail by the Nigerian Police Force (NPF).

The embattled lawmaker was released on Saturday, at about 4PM.

The Public Relation Officer for the NPF, Frank Mba, confirmed to Channels television that lawmaker was released on the condition that he will appear before the Police’s Special Task Force team on Monday, 18th of June 2012 and subsequently until the matter is disposed of.


Mr Farouk, who has been in police custody for the last two days, was detained by the police Special Task Force team on Thursday night, to answer questions bordering on allegations of $3million bribe, raised by a major oil marketer.

The CEO, Zenon Oil ad Gas Limited, Mr Femi Otedola had alleged that the lawmaker demanded the sum of $3.5 million as bribe and received $620000 as down payment from him, in a sting operation, allegedly coordinated by the State security services.

The bribe according to Mr Otedola was solicited by the lawmaker, who offered to remove the name of Zenon Oil from the list the companies indicted for receiving fuel subsidy but failed to deliver the fuel.

Mr Otedola showed up and provided evidence to corroborate his allegations, to the police force on Thursday, while Mr Farouk turned himself in, late in the night, after an ultimatum was issued by the Police, threatening to arrest him if he failed to show up.

Mr Farouk Lawan, a lawmaker from Kano state, has since been suspended as the chairman of the ad hoc committee and House of Representative Committee on Education.

The House in a unanimous decision at an emergency session on Friday, agreed on the suspensions and called for further investigation, as it also urged the executive arm of government to ensure that the fuel subsidy report is fully implemented, despite the bribe allegations.

The House also returned the name of Zenon Oil, back to the list, a move strongly condemned by the oil mogul.