BREAKING: Farouk Lawan Released from Prison After Serving Five-Year Sentence

By Iyojo Ameh

Former member of the House of Representatives, Farouk Lawan, has been released from the Kuje Correctional Facility after completing a five-year prison term for corruption. Lawan, once known for his outspokenness and influence in the House, walked out of the facility on Tuesday.

Lawan, who chaired the House of Representatives’ probe panel on the oil subsidy regime, was initially sentenced to seven years in prison for accepting a $3 million bribe from prominent oil tycoon, Chief Femi Otedola.

His conviction followed a trial led by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

Justice Angela Otaluka of the FCT High Court, Apo, had found Lawan guilty on all three charges brought against him.

The charges were linked to his role in soliciting and receiving a bribe in exchange for altering a report on the fraudulent oil subsidy scheme, which was being investigated by the panel he chaired.

In addition to the prison sentence, Justice Otaluka ordered Lawan to refund $500,000 to the federal government as part of the judgment.

Lawan’s case, which attracted widespread attention, became symbolic of corruption within Nigeria’s political class. His release marks the end of one of the most publicized corruption cases involving a sitting lawmaker in recent years.

Farouk Lawan’s downfall began during his tenure as chairman of the ad-hoc committee tasked with investigating the fuel subsidy regime. His once-prominent career came to a halt when Otedola, an oil magnate, accused him of demanding a bribe to remove his company’s name from the list of firms implicated in the subsidy scam.

As of press time, Lawan has yet to make a public statement regarding his release.