Subsidy bribe: Pressure on Police to charge Otedola with Lawan

Indications emerged, yesterday, that the Police are under intense pressure to charge Chief Femi Otedola, the accuser of the erstwhile chairman of the House Probe Committee, Hon. Farouk Lawal, if at all Farouk is to be prosecuted.

Newsmen gathered that the delay in arraigning Lawan after months of the conclusion of the investigative reports followed intrigues and pressure being mounted on the government by top brass of the National Assembly to drop the charges against him.

With government insistence, however, that the matter was purely left for the Police to handle and that it will abide by Police findings, mounting pressure is now on the police to charge Otedola along, with sources saying this may lead to the Federal Government intervening to give Lawan a safe landing.

However, the embattled former Fuel Subsidy Adhoc Committee Chairman, Farouk Lawan, has continued to report to the police authorities in compliance with his bail condition which says he should be reporting twice a week to the police.

Consequently, a register was opened for him to be signing every time he reports in a week and newsmen gathered that so far, he has obeyed the directive diligently and signed attendance register about 40 times.

When he appeared before the Police yesterday, Lawan was cited in a milk colour caftan signing the register at the Force Headquarters.

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At Last Police IG Receives Farouk Lawan Bribery Scandal Video

Following intense pressure from Nigerians and international anti-corruption watch dogs, the federal government is set to do the right thing in the $620,000 fuel subsidy bribery scandal that rocked the House of Representatives.

The inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, has now received the video tape of the bribery transaction involving Hon. Farouk Lawal, former Chairman, House of Reps Probe Panel, from the State Security Service, SSS, to help in the prosecution.

This was sequel to the directive by the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mohammed Adoke, that the report submitted by the Police Special Task Force probing the $620,000 subsidy bribe scandal, be re-investigated and grey areas cleared.

It was gathered that since the receipt of the video and commencement of investigation to clear the so-called "grey areas", there had been immense pressure on the IGP by some powerful interests, including prominent Northern politicians.

But as a result of the pressure, the dexterity and sense of purpose with which the Presidency that earlier wanted a quick resolution of the bribery scam, is no longer clear.

Accusations that the bribery scam issue was a set up by the Presidency to rubbish the integrity of the House have also resurfaced, with Northern leaders pleading for soft landing for Farouk.

It was gathered that Farouk had continued to report to the police every two days and signs attendance register, though the police are in a fix as to whether to join Femi Otedola, the complainant as a suspect.

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