$620,000 subsidy bribe: Farouk Lawan to spend one week in jail

Hon. Farouk Lawan, a member of the House of Representatives,  was on Friday remanded in prison custody.

This followed his arraignment by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission at a Federal Capital Territory High Court.

He was arraigned on seven counts of criminal dealing.

The charge stems from allegations made against him by a businessman, Mr. Femi Otedola, that the lawmaker demanded and received $620,000 as bribe from him while he (Lawan) served as the chairman of the Ad Hoc Committee on Monitoring of Fuel Subsidy Regime.

Lawan had denied the allegation, claiming that he collected the money in order to expose Otedola’s attempt to bribe him.

The lawmaker will spend a week in prison before the court determines whether to grant or refuse his bail application.

Earlier, Lawan, looking calm and optimistic in a flowing white agbada and grey cap, had pleaded not guilty to the seven counts slammed against him.

“My Lord, I am not guilty,” he said in response to each of the counts.

Lawan is also known as ‘Mr. Integrity’ on account of a campaign he led in 2007 against then Speaker, Patricia Etteh, and forced her out of office.