Supreme Court Upholds Five-Year Sentence for Former House Committee Chairman in Bribery Case

The Supreme Court maintained the conviction and five-year prison sentence for Mr. Farouk Lawan, the former Chairman of the House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee on Fuel Subsidy probe. The unanimous decision by a five-member panel dismissed Lawan’s appeal challenging his bribery conviction. Despite Lawan’s contention that he was denied the opportunity to plea for leniency, the Supreme Court deemed the absence of allocution inconsequential to the validity of the sentence.

Previously sentenced to seven years by a Federal Capital Territory High Court in June 2021, Lawan faced charges of demanding a $3 million bribe from Chief Femi Otedola of Zenon Petroleum and Gas Ltd. The trial court found him guilty of breaching sections of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

The Supreme Court concurred that the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission successfully built a criminal case against Lawan, upholding his conviction on all three counts. While the initial sentence handed 7 years on counts 1 and 2, the Supreme Court revised count 3 to a concurrent 5-year term.

Lawan, dissatisfied with the verdict, appealed, arguing that the ICPC failed to establish a prima facie case against him. The Court of Appeal affirmed the high court’s decision but reduced Lawan’s jail term from 7 to 5 years, dismissing two charges but upholding the third, which involved receiving $500,000 from Otedola.

The Supreme Court’s recent decision solidifies the legal outcome of this high-profile bribery case, bringing a prolonged legal battle to its conclusion.