Supreme Court Affirms Farouk Lawan’s Five-Year Sentence for $500,000 Bribe

By Iyojo Ameh

The Supreme Court has upheld the five-year prison sentence of former House of Representatives member, Farouk Lawan. The judgment, delivered on Friday by a five-member panel, affirms the 2022 decision of the Court of Appeal.

Lawan’s conviction stems from a 2021 case where he was found guilty of accepting a $500,000 bribe from businessman Femi Otedola, the Chairman of Zenon Petroleum and Gas Ltd.

The Court of Appeal’s judgment specifically endorsed the sentencing related to count three of the three-count charge brought against Lawan at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

In the unanimous decision, prepared by Justice John Okoro and read by Justice Tijjani Abubakar, the Supreme Court declared Lawan’s appeal devoid of merit, leading to its dismissal.

This ruling solidifies the legal consequences of Lawan’s involvement in the bribery scandal, marking a significant development in the pursuit of justice.