I had so much faith in Lawan and it is with a heavy heart i am putting up this post! Read details below;
Lawan, Chairman, House of Rep Ad Hoc Committee on the fuel subsidy changed his story on the $620,000 bribery allegation against him by Femi Otedola yesterday.
Lawan, who initially denied collecting any bribe admitted to reporters taht he did infact receive $500,000 from Otedola, whom he accused of offering him the money to influence the probe panel's report. He also said, the ad hoc committee's secretary, Mr. Boniface Emenalo, whom Otedola had said collected $120,000 on his (Lawan's) behalf informed him through an April 24 letter he wrote to him. Emenalo's letter reads: "I wish to inform you that I was on his invitation, at the residence of their chairman, Mr. Femi Otedola, in Maitama (Aso Drive) this morning and he offered me the sum of one hundred thousand US dollars in two bundles of $50,000 each. The money is hereby forwarded as evidence."
It was learnt that the House might either refer the matter to its Committee on Ethics and Privileges for probe or set up a special ad hoc committee to investigate the matter.
On his part, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke, has promised that the Federal Government will take appropriate action when it receives the report of investigation into the allegation.
According to Thisday, Lawan said he had informed the Chairman of the House Committee on Narcotic Drugs and Financial Crimes, Hon. Adams Jagaba, through a letter dated April 24, 2012 of Otedola's alleged persistence to bribe him to influence the outcome of the investigation. Lawan said he attached "the sum of five hundred thousand dollars only offered to me with another promise of two million, five hundred thousand dollars" to the letter.On why he did not raise the issue on the floor of the House, he said he declined to do so as not to divert attention from the essence of the fuel subsidy probe.
"Given the desperation of Mr. Otedola, handling this matter, a firm but diplomatic manner is necessary as he has also made some veiled threats which put me and members of the committee in a delicate situation."
He also said that the Lawan also stated that the police were aware of the offer of bribe as the Inspector-General of Police (IG) in a letter dated May 9 directed the Task Force on Investigation to meet him.
He said the IG had in a letter with reference number CR:3000/IGP.SEC/STF/FHQ/ABJ/VOL 2/309 to him, called Lawan's attention to an interview he granted a national newspaper on April 28, 2012 and directed, "a discreet investigation into the matter."The letter was signed by the Commissioner of Police, Special Task Force, Ali Amodu.He said that in another letter dated May 16 with reference number CR:3000/IGP.SEC/STF/FHQ/ABJ/VOL 2/319, and signed by Amodu, the IG requested the money exhibit, names of witnesses and other material evidence from him.
Lawan explained that in a letter dated May 31, he told the IG that the matter (bribe offer) had been referred to the relevant committee of the House for legislative action.
He said he promised that the House would inform him (IG) about the outcome of the legislative actions.
According to him, the IG in a letter to the Speaker of the House, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, dated June 4, 2012, stated that a detailed criminal investigation had been ordered into the matter.
In the letter titled, 'Investigation Activities: Letter of Invitation in a Case of Criminal Conspiracy and Attempt to Pervert the Course of Justice by Offering Gratification', the office of the IG stated that "the Inspector General of Police has directed a detailed criminal investigation into the matter."
His account of the story Monday completely contradicted the version he gave on Sunday in Abuja, where he claimed that he had previously alerted the public on the bid by an oil marketer, who he did not name, to bribe the ad hoc committee members and the House leadership to influence the outcome of the fuel subsidy probe report.
He further denied that neither he nor any member of the committee collected money from any of the oil marketers.
According to Thisday, Lawan said he had informed the Chairman of the House Committee on Narcotic Drugs and Financial Crimes, Hon. Adams Jagaba, through a letter dated April 24, 2012 of Otedola's alleged persistence to bribe him to influence the outcome of the investigation. Lawan said he attached "the sum of five hundred thousand dollars only offered to me with another promise of two million, five hundred thousand dollars" to the letter.On why he did not raise the issue on the floor of the House, he said he declined to do so as not to divert attention from the essence of the fuel subsidy probe.
"Given the desperation of Mr. Otedola, handling this matter, a firm but diplomatic manner is necessary as he has also made some veiled threats which put me and members of the committee in a delicate situation."
He also said that the Lawan also stated that the police were aware of the offer of bribe as the Inspector-General of Police (IG) in a letter dated May 9 directed the Task Force on Investigation to meet him.
He said the IG had in a letter with reference number CR:3000/IGP.SEC/STF/FHQ/ABJ/VOL 2/309 to him, called Lawan's attention to an interview he granted a national newspaper on April 28, 2012 and directed, "a discreet investigation into the matter."The letter was signed by the Commissioner of Police, Special Task Force, Ali Amodu.He said that in another letter dated May 16 with reference number CR:3000/IGP.SEC/STF/FHQ/ABJ/VOL 2/319, and signed by Amodu, the IG requested the money exhibit, names of witnesses and other material evidence from him.
Lawan explained that in a letter dated May 31, he told the IG that the matter (bribe offer) had been referred to the relevant committee of the House for legislative action.
He said he promised that the House would inform him (IG) about the outcome of the legislative actions.
According to him, the IG in a letter to the Speaker of the House, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, dated June 4, 2012, stated that a detailed criminal investigation had been ordered into the matter.
In the letter titled, 'Investigation Activities: Letter of Invitation in a Case of Criminal Conspiracy and Attempt to Pervert the Course of Justice by Offering Gratification', the office of the IG stated that "the Inspector General of Police has directed a detailed criminal investigation into the matter."
His account of the story Monday completely contradicted the version he gave on Sunday in Abuja, where he claimed that he had previously alerted the public on the bid by an oil marketer, who he did not name, to bribe the ad hoc committee members and the House leadership to influence the outcome of the fuel subsidy probe report.
He further denied that neither he nor any member of the committee collected money from any of the oil marketers.
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