Former Kano State Federal lawmaker, Farouk Lawan, has been released from prison after serving a five-year sentence. Lawan, who was once a prominent member of the House of Representatives, had been convicted for demanding and accepting a $500,000 bribe during his tenure as the chairman of the House ad hoc committee on fuel subsidy fraud.
Lawan’s conviction, upheld by the Supreme Court on January 26, 2024, was tied to a larger scandal in which he solicited a $3 million bribe from Nigerian billionaire oil magnate Femi Otedola.
The bribe was connected to Lawan’s investigation of the fuel subsidy scheme in 2012, during which he demanded payment in exchange for removing Otedola’s company, Zenon Petroleum, from the list of implicated firms.
The case, which drew widespread attention, culminated in Lawan’s sentencing in 2021. His appeal against the conviction was rejected by the Supreme Court earlier this year, solidifying the decision of the lower courts. Lawan has now completed his jail term and regained his freedom.
Further details on Lawan’s release and potential post-incarceration activities are expected to emerge.
