Farouk Lawan’s bribery case starts afresh in Abuja court

 

You all remember Farouk Lawan, the member of the house of representatives who was captured on video allegedly requesting and receiving $620,000 bribe from the chairman of Zenon Oil and Gas, Femi Otedola, This case has been largely silent in the last one year, since that video went viral.Lawan, who headed the House of Representatives ad-hoc Committee on Fuel Subsidy Regime, and the ex-Secretary of the committee, Boniface Emenalo were re-arraigned on Wednesday11th June 2014 before a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Gudu, Abuja.

The prosecution brought a seven-count charge against them, bordering on receipt of bribe and abuse of office. They are accused of demanding and receiving $620, 000 as bribe from Femi Otedola so as to exclude his companies – Zenon Petroleum and Gas as well as Synopsis Enterprises Limited – from the list of companies found to have allegedly defrauded the Federal Government of billions of naira in fuel subsidy.

Previously, the case against the men was before Justice Mudashiru Oniyangi (formerly of the FCT High Court, Maitama), however Oniyangi was elevated to the Court of Appeal some months ago and so the case had to be transferred to a new judge Justice Adebukola Banjoko. Consequently, it had to start afresh with the taking of pleas by the accused on Wednesday.When the case was called, lead prosecution lawyer, Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN) informed the court that the business of the day was for the accused persons to plead to the charge afresh.The accused persons Lawan and Emenalo both pleaded not guilty.
Source: The Scoop