In a significant legal development, the Supreme Court has upheld the five-year prison sentence handed to former House of Representatives member, Farouk Lawan.
The Court of Appeal’s 2022 judgment, which affirmed Lawan’s conviction in 2021, was unanimously supported by a five-member panel in a recent unanimous decision. The case revolves around Lawan’s acceptance of a $500,000 bribe from businessman Femi Otedola, the Chairman of Zenon Petroleum and Gas Ltd.
The Supreme Court’s decision specifically pertains to count three of the three-count charge on which Lawan was tried at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
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In the lead judgment prepared by Justice John Okoro and read by Justice Tijjani Abubakar on Friday, the court found Lawan’s appeal devoid of merit, leading to its dismissal.
Farouk Lawan’s conviction and subsequent legal battles have drawn considerable attention, highlighting issues of corruption within the political landscape.
The unanimous affirmation of the jail term by the Supreme Court marks a significant milestone in the legal proceedings against the former lawmaker.
Further details on the judgment are expected to be revealed shortly.