Julius Okorie
Former member of the House of Representatives representing the Bagwai/Shanono constituency of Kano State, Farouk Lawan, has regained freedom after serving a five-year jail term.
Lawan, who was convicted and sentenced to prison in 2021, was charged with soliciting and accepting a $500,000 bribe from businessman Femi Otedola, Chairman of Zenon Petroleum and Gas Limited.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelRecall that Lawan was Chairman of the House of Representatives Ad Hoc Committee on Fuel Subsidy probe.
Spokesman of the Federal Capital Territory FCT Command of the Nigeria Correctional Service NCoS, Adamu Duza, confirmed the development on Tuesday, stating “Yes, he has been released having served his sentence.”
Lawan who is full of gratitude to God for sparing his life and giving him the opportunity to breathe air of freedom again, thanked his families and associates for their prayers, describing his freedom as the beginning of a new chapter.
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In a statement, he said: “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.
“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.”
Lawan, a member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) member, was elected record four times into the House of Representatives in 1999, 2003, 2007 and again in 2011.
Lawan was the Chairman of the House Committee on Finance under the former Speaker Aminu Bello Masari.
He identifies his legislative interests as “Appropriation, Information and Education”. The father of four is an alumnus of Bayero University, Kano.
Julius Okorie is Chief Sports and Entertainment Correspondent for Prime Business Africa. He began his journalism career with the Champion Newspaper and Sporting Champion and later moved on to Daily Independent and the Nation Newspapers. Okorie joined Prime Business Africa in 2024 bringing on board 20 years of experience in writing investigative news on Sports and Entertainment. His well researched and highly informative articles on Sports Business and general entertainment are followed by a wide range of audience.
