Olayiwola Matthew
A former member of the House of Representative, Farouk Lawan, who was jailed for bribery in 2021, has been released from Kuje prison.
Lawan was convicted and sentenced to prison in 2021 for accepting a $500,000 bribe from a prominent businessman, Femi Otedola.
Otedola was then Chairman, Zenon Petroleum and Gas Limited.
The Supreme Court also early this year upheld the five years sentence of the former House of Representatives member.
His appeal sought to set aside the February 24, 2022 judgment of the Court of Appeal in Abuja, which sentenced him to a five-year jail term and discharged him on two out of the three counts on the corruption charge brought against him by the Federal Government failed.
Farouk stepped out of Kuje prison on Tuesday after completing his jail term.
The lawmaker announced his freedom in a statement he personally penned and made available to The Eagle Online on Tuesday.
The statement reads in full:
Thank Almighty Allah – Hon Farouk Lawan
Alhamdulillah
Alhamdulillah
Alhamdulillah
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.
I remain grateful and indebted to my family and friends who stood by me through this particularly trying phase of my life.
May Allah SWT bless you.