Lawan promises to surrender N93m bribe

Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on the probe of fuel subsidy mismanagement, Mr. Farouk Lawan | credits: File

Embattled lawmaker, Farouk Lawan, has finally promised to surrender the $500,000 bribe to the Special Task Force before the end of the week following serious psychological and physical pressures mounted on him by investigators.

It was learnt that Lawan succumbed to the pressure mounted him by the STF Commissioner of Police, Ali Ahmodu, on Wednesday and agreed to bring the money which he was said to have received from Femi Otedola on April 24, 2012.

He was said to have told investigators that he would only surrender the money before witnesses which would include his lawyers, Mike Ozhekome (SAN) and Israel Olorundare.

Boniface Emenalo had been asked to report on Friday, but it could not be ascertained if he would surrender his share of the bribe on that day.

Sources told our correspondent that Lawan cracked when he was confronted with the letter from the Chairman, Committee on Narcotics and Financial Crimes, Adams Jagaba, who denied knowledge of the money.

“When subjected to intense pressure by CP Ahmadu, Lawan finally cracked and said he was tired of the drama and stories surrounding the matter. In an agitated tone, he said he will bring the money before weekend on the condition that there would be witnesses there: this is the breakthrough investigators needed to conclude the case,” a source said.

Jagaba, had in a letter to the Speaker, Mr. Aminu Tambuwal, on Tuesday denied that he was in possession of the money.

He stated, “I wish to categorically and unequivocally state that there was never a time I was in possession of the sum of $620,000 or any other exhibit (in my personal capacity or official capacity as Chairman, House Committee on Drugs/Narcotics and Financial Crimes).”

Lawan had last week claimed that he had handed over the money to Jagaba.

Our correspondents could not reach Lawan on Wednesday as he did not pick calls made to his telephone sets.

via Punch