The suspended Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Monitoring of Subsidy Regime, Mr. Farouk Lawan, who appeared before the house committee on Ethics and Privileges on Thursday, admitted taking “money” and “not a bribe” from oil businessman, Mr. Femi Otedola.

The committee, which is investigating the $620,000 bribery allegation, is headed by Mr. Gambo Musa.

Lawan who tried drawing a distinction between money and a bribe, drew the attention of the committee to the fact that he was careful with his choice of words. According to him, “Bribe was not mentioned in the statement I previously issued, but money.”

A source, who was privy to the details of the testimonies, said, “He told the committee that he took money to expose Otedola, as different from a bribe.

Lawan reportedly tendered text messages and call logs to the panel as evidence that he did not initiate the transaction between Otedola and himself.

According to the source, the committee resolved to invite him again if the testimonies of other witnesses punctured his claims “or if there is the need to hear from him again.

“Otherwise, the committee is done with him.”