Farouk Lawan, former Nigerian lawmaker, has been released from Kuje Custodial Center after serving a five-year sentence for accepting a $500,000 bribe during a fuel subsidy investigation. His conviction highlighted corruption within Nigeria's fuel subsidy regime, raising questions about accountability in the nation's governance.
Farouk Lawan, a former Nigerian lawmaker, has been released from Kuje Custodial Center after completing a five-year sentence related to a bribery scandal from 2012. Lawan was convicted in June 2021 for accepting a $500,000 bribe from billionaire businessman Femi Otedola while heading a legislative investigation into fuel subsidy fraud. Initially sentenced to seven years, the Court of Appeal later reduced his term, upholding his conviction but acquitting him on two counts. The Supreme Court confirmed this ruling in January 2024, dismissing his final appeal.
Upon his release on October 22, 2024, Lawan expressed heartfelt gratitude in a statement, acknowledging his faith and the support he received from family and friends during his imprisonment. He reflected on the challenges he faced, stating, “Today marks the beginning of a new chapter in my life... I’m alive and in good health and high spirits.”
