A former member of the House of Representatives, Farouk Lawan has regained his freedom after serving his jail term at the Kuje Custodial Centre.
This followed the completion of his five-year jail term in Kuje Prison.
Spokesman of the Federal Capital Territory FCT Command of the Nigeria Correctional Service NCoS, Adamu Duza confirmed the development saying; “Yes, he has been released having served his sentence.”
In January, the Supreme Court had affirmed the five-year jail term handed to Lawan by the Court of Appeal.
Lawan was convicted and sentenced to prison in 2021 for accepting a $500,000 bribe from businessman Femi Otedola, Chairman, Zenon Petroleum and Gas Ltd.
The bribe was said to help influence the removal of the name of his oil company from the list of indicted companies in the fuel subsidy scam of 2012.
In a unanimous judgment, a five-member panel affirmed the 2022 judgment of the Court of Appeal which upheld Lawan’s sentencing to five years in respect of only count three on the three-count charge on which he was tried at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
In the lead judgment prepared by Justice John Okoro but read by Justice Tijjani Abubakar, the apex court found that Lawan’s appeal was without merit and proceeded to dismiss it.
Meanwhile, the lawmaker speaking after his release in a statement he personally signed, on Tuesday, October 22, 2024, give thanks to God for being alive
“Alhamdulillah Alhamdulillah Alhamdulillah. 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.
“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. May Allah SWT bless you,” the statement read.
The former federal lawmaker represented the Bagwai/Shanono constituency of Kano state in the House of Representatives.
