Thursday, November 7

FG Files Bribery Charges against Rep. Farouk Lawan

NEWS reaching sharpedgenews.com reveal that charges were filed Thursday in Abuja against Representative Farouk Lawan and Emenalo Boniface, both of whom were implicated in the bribery of oil businessmen Femi Otedola of Zenon Petroleum.

Available documents reveal that Thursday’s charges were instituted on behalf of Nigeria’s federal Attorney General Mohammed Adoke, by a Mr. O.O Fatunde, in which the accused duo of Lawan and Boniface were alleged to have solicited the sum of $3 million in bribe money form Mr. Otedola.

The charges come a few days after a private citizen and lawyer, Mr. Festus Keyamo carried out his previous threat to personally see to the prosecution of the allegedly erring public officials.

“The position of the law is that, before I commence private prosecution, you should be given the opportunity to prosecute or to decline to prosecute,” Mr. Keyamo wrote in a letter to Attorney-General Adoke, asking the latter to either prosecute the accused or allow him to go ahead to prosecute them.

Giving Mr. Adoke until January 29 to act on his request, Mr. Keyamo said he looked forward to the Attorney-General’s decision either way, otherwise he would deem it as a refusal similar to another case involving the late activist lawyer, Chief Gani Fawehinmi.

“I sincerely hope you will make your decision one way or the other as any indecision on your part will amount to a refusal to act as held by the Supreme Court in the case of CHIEF GANI FAWEHINMI V. COL. HALILU AKILU & ANOR: IN RE: ODUNEYE reported in 1987 (4 NWLR) P. 67. In that case, it will be all-clear signal I require to file the Charge,” the lawyer stated.

It is yet to be fully ascertained if the decision of the government to move against the accused men is at the instance of Mr. Keyamo. More details to come.

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