For many who thought that the bribery scandal involving the former chairman of the House of Representatives Adhoc Committee on the oil subsidy regime, Mr. Farouk Lawan, had been swept under the carpet, justice appears to have begun to take its course.

Mr. Lawan and the committee’s secretary, Mr. Boniface Emenalo were on Friday arraigned before an Abuja High Court on a seven-count charge for allegedly soliciting and obtaining the sum of $620,000 from the chairman of Zenon Oil, Mr. Femi Otedola.

Mr. Lawan alongside the clerk of the committee pleaded not guilty to four counts each of receiving inducement from Mr. Otedola.

Following their not-guilty plea, counsel to the accused persons Mr. Ricky Tarfa, made an application for bail in the most liberal terms.

According to Mr. Tarfa, the accused have been on administrative bail and have complied to the terms of their bail.

Opposing the bail application, the counsel to the Federal Government, Mr. Adegboyega Awomolo told the court that the accused did not attest to any affidavit that if granted bail they will not be members of any committee.

He further told the court that the accused persons were part and parcel of the National Assembly in 2000 when the law was enacted and they were aware of what it envisaged.

Presiding judge, Justice Mudashiru Oniyangi noted that the court will need time to study the documents filed and the oral submission made by counsel to decide on the application.

Pending the decision, however, the judge ordered that the accused persons should be remanded in prison custody until the eight of February 2013.

The federal government yesterday finally agreed to begin the trial of Mr. Farouk after about five months delay.

The Federal Government had earlier obtained the leave of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court to slam the criminal charges against Farouk at the High Court Four in Maitama.

This is coming a week after constitutional lawyer, Festus Keyamo, entered a 4-count criminal charge against Mr. Farouk.

The lawyer had earlier given the Federal Government a seven-day ultimatum, which expires today, to commence the trial of the lawmaker or he would proceed to court and file charges against him.