BREAKING: Supreme Court Upholds Farouk Lawan’s 5 Years Imprisonment Over 2012 Fuel Subsidy Scam

The Supreme Court has dismissed the appeal filed by a former chairman of the federal House of Representatives ad-hoc committee on fuel subsidy, Farouk Lawan, against his conviction and five-year jail term over a fuel subsidy scam.

Lawan was given a seven year jail term by a Federal Capital Territory High Court on June 22, 2021.

THE WHISTLER reported that trial judge Angela Otaluka sentenced Lawan having found him guilty of bribery in 2012 following a three count charge filed against him by the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC).

The ICPC had alleged that he demanded $3 million from business mogul, Femi Otedola, to remove his company from the list of defaulters in the fuel subsidy scam (which constitutes count 1 and 2).

He was also accused by the anti-graft agency of collecting $500,000 as bribe from Otedola (count 3).

By the provisions of the law, the punishment for count 1 and 2 attracts 7 years imprisonment while bribery is for 5 years.

THE WHISTLER recalls that the Court of Appeal, Abuja, had on February 24, 2022 struck out two counts from the charges that nailed Lawan.

In its verdict, a three-member panel led by Appeal Court President, Monica Dongban-Mensem, had said the ICPC did not prove its allegations in count 1 and 2, adding that the trial court’s decision cannot stand.

By the judgment, Lawan’s jail term was reduced from seven to five years.

But Lawan’s lawyer, J.B. Daudu appealed to the apex court seeking his client’s acquittal.

However, the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation represented on Friday by Mrs Aderonke Imana, urged the apex court to uphold the former lawmaker’s conviction and sentencing.

Reading the lead judgment (prepared by Justice Inyang Okoro), Justice Tijani Abubakar held the issues are resolved against the appellant.

The judge found that there was no merit in the appellants move to quash his sentence, finding he actually received a bribe.

“On the whole, I find there is no merit in this appeal.

“The appeal is hereby dismissed,” the judge said.