News Editor
By David Odama
Former embattled member of the House of Representatives, Farouk Lawan, has been released from Correctional Facility after serving his five-year jail term for corruption.
Lawan, then known for his outburst and influence in the House, was released from the correctional facility on Tuesday.
The former Chairman of 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) headed by Justice Angela Otaluka of the FCT High Court, Apo.
The court had found Lawan guilty on all three counts charges brought against him.
Charges against the former lawmaker 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 TMS news gathered 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.
