A former member of the House of Representatives, Farouk Lawan, who was freed from Kuje Correctional Facility on Tuesday after spending five years has declared that a new chapter of his life has begun.
Saying “Alhamdulillah Alhamdulillah Alhamdulillah meaning Thank Allah, thank Allah, thank Allah in the statement, Lawan added that “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,” the statement read.
Lawan was the Chairman of the House of Representatives Ad hoc Committee on Fuel Subsidy Regime.
He was prosecuted in 2013 after he allegedly asked for a bribe of $3million from billionaire businessman, Femi Otedola, who accused him of receiving $500,000.
The bribe was said to help influence the removal of the name of his oil company from the list of indicted companies in the fuel subsidy scam of 2012.
Lawan appealed to the panel which held that the prosecution failed to prove that he demanded and agreed to accept the sum from Otedola, to exonerate his company from the list of indicted firms.
He was sentenced on three count charges preferred against him by the Federal Government with a sentence of five years each for the first two counts, and seven years for the last count, all to run concurrently.
