A former member of the House of Representatives, Farouk Lawan, has regained freedom after serving a five-year jail term for demanding and accepting a $500,000 bribe.
Lawan was released from the Kuje correctional facility in Abuja on Tuesday.
The ex-legislator was convicted of demanding and taking bribe from businessman, Femi Otedola, who was chairman of Zenon Petroleum and Gas Limited.
Lawan was at the time chairman of the House of Representatives ad-hoc committee investigating fuel subsidy fraud in 2012.
“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,” he said in a statement.
The former lawmaker thanked friends and family for their support in a “particularly trying phase of my life”.
“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,” he said.
“I remain grateful and indebted to my family and friends who stood by me through this particularly trying phase of my life.”
The Supreme Court upheld his conviction on January 26, 2024.
