After over five months of delay, the federal government has finally agreed to begin the trial of the House of Representatives member, Mr. Farouk Lawan for allegedly demanding and receiving $620,000 dollar bribe.
As the Chairman of the House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee on Fuel Subsidy Probe, Mr Lawal is alleged to have negotiated the sum of $3million as bribe and collected $650,000 from the Chairman of Zenon Oil and Gas Limited, Mr. Femi Otedola.
Court details obtained by Channels TV reveal that the embattled lawmaker will now be prosecuted by the Federal Government for receiving bribe, breach of trust and stealing, along with one official of the National Assembly.
Mr. Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN) is expected to lead federal government’s legal team.
Already, the leave of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court has been secured by the Federal Government to slam the criminal charges against Farouk at the High Court Four in Maitama.
Although a copy of the criminal charge could not be obtained by Channels TV at press time, it was gathered that all necessary documentary and oral evidence have been sufficiently assembled to facilitate diligent prosecution.
This is coming a week after constitutional lawyer, Festus Keyamo, entered a 4-count criminal charge against the lawmaker for allegedly collecting the sum of $3million as bribe from Mr Otedola.
The lawyer had earlier given the Federal Government a seven day ultimatum to commence the trail of the lawmaker or he would proceed to court and file charges against him.
