Abuja, Nigeria – Former member of the House of Representatives, Farouk Lawan, has been released from Kuje Correctional Facility after serving five years of a seven-year prison sentence. Lawan, who chaired the House probe panel on the oil subsidy regime, was convicted for accepting a $3 million bribe from oil tycoon Femi Otedola.
Lawan’s conviction, which was delivered by Justice Angela Otaluka of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Apo, stemmed from charges brought against him by the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC). The former lawmaker was found guilty on all three charges related to bribery and corruption.
In addition to his prison sentence, Lawan was ordered to return $500,000 to the federal government, representing part of the bribe he had received from Otedola during the oil subsidy investigation.
The case, which captured widespread attention, involved Lawan’s role in the 2012 probe into fuel subsidy fraud, during which he solicited a bribe from Otedola to have the businessman’s company removed from the list of those under investigation. Lawan was arrested, tried, and sentenced in 2021 after a lengthy legal process.
His release on Tuesday morning brings an end to his time behind bars, though his conviction remains a stark reminder of the corruption challenges Nigeria continues to face.
Lawan’s release has reignited discussions on accountability and justice in high-profile corruption cases involving public officials. However, neither Lawan nor his legal team has made any public comment since his release.
The Federal Government is expected to enforce the refund of the $500,000 as mandated by the court.