WHERE
is the $620,000 bribe businessman Femi Otedola gave the suspended
Chairman of the House Ad Hoc Committee on Fuel Subsidy Management,
Mallam Farouk Lawan ?
The
question remained as knotty as ever yesterday, with the Chairman of the
House Committee on Narcotics, Drugs and Financial Crimes, Mr. Adam
Jagaba, denying having the cash. Lawan has refused to surrendered the
money, saying it is his proof that Otedola bribed him against his wish.
Otedola said Lawan mounted pressure on him to part with the “marked” cash.
The
mystery may be resolved in court, going by legal advice given Lawan. He
is believed to have been advised against surrendering the cash to the
police to avoid it being tampered with.
It was learnt that lawyers prefer Lawan producing the dollar bills only at the discretion of a court.
Although Lawan is expected to report to the police today, he may not produce the bribe sum.
A
defence team source, who spoke in confidence, said: “We are actually
preparing for the court battle. Whoever is in custody of the alleged
bribe cash can only produce it based on the order of a competent court.
“The
way the police are desperate to retrieve the money suggests a suspicious
motive and it will be proper for Lawan to be protected by a court
rather than by any security agency.
“In fact, we have other issues surrounding the investigation by the police, which ought to be addressed in court.
“But
we decided not to take any precipitate action that will suggest that
Lawan has something to hide or to give room for any excuse that he is
trying to cover up his track. We are set for the worst case scenario.”
Jagaba, in a document obtained by The Nation, affirmed that he was not in possession of the cash.
Jagaba
wrote: “I wish to categorically and unequivocally state that there was
never a time I was in possession of the sum of $620,000 or any other
exhibit (in my personal capacity or official capacity as Chairman House
Committee on Drugs, Narcotics and Financial Crimes) relating to the
subject matter of the above investigation.
“I
hope this explanation lays to rest once and for all the claims that I or
my Committee is in possession of the sum of $620,000 purportedly given
as bribe to the ad hoc Committee on Monitoring of fuel subsidy regime.”
It
was gathered that the letter was sent to Speaker Aminu Tambuwal by
Commissioner of Police Ali Amodu who is leading the investigation.
On receiving the Police request, the Speaker forwarded it to Jagaba who, Lawan alleged, he gave the money to keep.
The letter forwarded to Jagaba on June 19 urged him to cooperate and act urgently.
It was signed by the Speaker’s Special Adviser (Legal and Legislative), Chille Igbawua.
The
Police letter, dated June 15, signed by CP Ali Amodu is entitled: Re:
Investigation activities: Request for handling over exhibits in
connection with a case of criminal conspiracy and taking gratification
to pervert the cause of justice reads:
“ In
furtherance of investigation into the above case involving Hon. Farouk
Lawan and his Ad Hoc Committee on Monitoring of the URL subsidy regime,
the Hon. Speaker is kindly requested to avail this office with the
following exhibits:
“ The
sum of $620,000 which Hon. Farouk Lawan admitted to have collected from
a marketer and handed over to the House Committee on Financial Crimes
and Anti-corruption.
“Any other material evidence that may be of use to this investigation”.
But a
source said: “You will recall that Lawan admitted that he allegedly
reported the matter to Jagaba alongside the bribe sum for onward
transmission to the anti-graft agency.
“But
the money was later retrieved from Jagaba by some people. So, it will be
right for Jagaba to say that the bribe sum is no longer with him.”
It
was learnt that Speaker Tambuwal has not received a letter from the
police inviting any member of the House in connection with the bribery.
A
high-ranking member of the House said: “The Speaker has not received any
letter from the Special Task Force of the Police inviting members of
the Ad Hoc Committee for interaction. If he gets it, he will read it on
the floor of the House.
“What
I know is that the Ad Hoc Committee is trying to conclude its work
within two weeks. The House is determined to put the oil subsidy probe
behind it.”
A
police source, however, added: “We are still going ahead with our
investigation. It is too hasty for anyone to conclude that Lawan will
not honour the undertaking he signed with the police.
“We
all know the consequence of entering into an undertaking without
honouring it. He assured us that he will facilitate the appearance of
Jagaba before us.”
On
the fate of two policemen, who smuggled Lawan out from detention cell on
Friday night to go home to take his bath, the source said: “They are
still in detention because they have violated the service rules. The
offence is considered grievous, such that none of their relations is
allowed to see them.
“I think they might soon face Orderly Room Trial, which is like being Court Martial in the Nigerian Army.”
It
was gathered that a Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Peter Gana,
was on Monday at the Force CID in Area 10, where Lawan was detained, for
a “wake up” call visit.
The source said: “The DIG read the Riot Act to officers and men. He asked them to sit up or face the consequence.”
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