Former member of the Lower Chamber Farouk Lawan has regained freedom after serving a five-year prison term for asking and accepting a $300,000 hush money from businessman Femi Otedola.
He was set free from the Kuje Correctional facility in Abuja on Tuesday.
“Today marks the beginning of a new chapter in my life as I step out of Kuje Custodial Centre, with a heart full of gratitude to Allah SWT for seeing me through this trial,” he said in a statement he signed.
The former lawmaker thanked loved ones for their help in a “particularly trying phase of my life”.
“My gratitude is deep, I’m alive and in good health and high spirits to be with my family, friends, and associates. I don’t take that for granted,” he said.
“I remain grateful and indebted to my family and friends who stood by me through this particularly trying phase of my life.”
The former lawmaker, who was the chairman of the Lower Chamber Committee on Fuel Subsidy, bagged the prison term for seeking the said amount from Otedola while investigating the multi-billion naira fuel subsidy fraud in 2012.
In 2021, the Court of Appeal in Abuja condemned him to a five-year prison term and acquitted him on two out of the three counts on the defilement allegation brought against him by the Federal Government.
He was likewise ordered to refund $500,000 to the Federal Government.
Lawan appealed the verdict at the Supreme Court.
In any case, in its judgment in January 2024, the apex court upheld the verdict.
While issuing the lead judgment, which was prepared by Justice John Okoro however read by Justice Tijjani Abubakar, the Supreme Court held that Lawan’s appeal lacked merit.
The court, subsequently, excused it.
