Farouk Lawan, a former member of the House of Representatives, has been released after serving a five-year prison sentence for soliciting and accepting a $500,000 bribe from businessman Femi Otedola.
He was freed from the Kuje Correctional Facility in Abuja on Tuesday.
Read Also: BREAKING: Senate Takes Action Over Kwara Senator And NDLEA Clash
“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,” he said in a statement he signed.
The former lawmaker expressed gratitude to friends and family for their support during what he described as a “particularly trying phase” of his life.
“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,” he said.
“I remain grateful and indebted to my family and friends who stood by me through this particularly trying phase of my life.”
Read Also: How We Found Drugs In House Of Senator Accusing Us Of Corruption – NDLEA
The former lawmaker, who chaired the House of Representatives Committee on Fuel Subsidy, received a five-year prison sentence for soliciting $500,000 from Femi Otedola during an investigation into the multi-billion naira fuel subsidy fraud in 2012.
In 2021, the Court of Appeal in Abuja sentenced him to five years in prison but acquitted him on two of the three counts in the corruption charge brought by the Federal Government.
He was also ordered to repay $500,000 to the government.
Lawan appealed this ruling to the Supreme Court. However, in January 2024, the Supreme Court upheld the lower court’s verdict, stating that Lawan’s appeal was without merit, leading to its dismissal.
The lead judgment was prepared by Justice John Okoro and read by Justice Tijjani Abubakar.
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaihFajBadmT29ufud2Z
